Richmond city council and Mayor Malcolm Brodie talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk when it comes to their opposition to a planned jet fuel pipeline and terminal and on the Fraser River.
That’s according to VAPOR, a grassroots group of residents that is now taking the province to court over the BC Environmental Assessment Office’s December decision to conditionally green light the facility, which will be able to store up to just over 100 million litres of fuel next to the Riverport entertainment and recreation complex in east Richmond.
After years of strongly worded letters and statements to the provincial government on the issue, Brodie told the Richmond News the city will not be taking part in any court action now that it’s a go.
“In terms of the jet fuel line, we did everything (to oppose it.) We devoted staff resources; we did everything politically and administratively to voice our displeasure with the VAFFC, the airline consortium that was addressing the jet fuel and it was their project,” said Brodie, adding that he and city lawyers “huddled” and determined it was not prudent to take on a legal battle.
“The courts are no place to make a statement of principle and just demonstrate you’re opposed to something. You have to be assured that when you come out of that court that you’re going to have a decision that’s in your favour,” said Brodie, a lawyer to trade.
Although when the project was approved, the City of Richmond said it had “significant flaws.”
VAPOR chair Otto Langer, a retired DFO marine biologist, said he and the group are challenging the EAO decision via a petition for a judicial review by BC Supreme Court because the public consultation process was flawed.
“VAPOR is, of course, very disappointed with the position Mayor Brodie has taken,” said Langer.
Langer said the city pledged outside support early on but since the group filed its lawsuit Brodie and his bureaucrats have since “disappeared.”
He said the group has good legal grounds to challenge VAFFC and noted Burnaby’s mayor Derek Corrigan who is taking the National Energy Board to court over its decision to subvert municipal bylaws.
“He (Corrigan) is using action to support his rhetoric. Such is apparently not forthcoming from Richmond City Council,” said Langer.
The longtime Richmond resident also critiqued the city’s decision in June to forward a report outlining a set of project objectives for a bridge at the George Massey Tunnel, including a demand that it’s design be “iconic.”
Only Coun. Harold Steves opposed the report.
The bridge is critical for the jet fuel terminal to proceed as the tunnel is an impediment to fuel tankers.
Brodie denied endorsing a bridge, stating he merely endorsed objectives the city wants to see.
Langer scoffed at the notion Brodie had any reasonable intention to actually oppose the bridge and, ultimately, the jet fuel facility.
“Why (have) councillors and the mayor lost their voices on an issue that will open up the Fraser to all sorts of undesirable heavy industry over the next many years? Have they turned their backs on the Fraser River and its wealth of salmon and wildlife resources and the public interest found in ‘an island by nature’ community?” asked Langer.
He said he hopes to reinvigorate council’s once-determined opposition to the fuel terminal by making a presentation soon.
He said it would be ironic to have Burnaby win its case, which could potentially result in an additional fuel/oil terminal on the Fraser River Estuary.
VAPOR says it presented a 6,000-signature petition to independent Delta MLA Vicki Huntington. Langer said Richmond’s Liberal MLA’s merely “sat on the fence” during the four-year approval process, bowing to cabinet solidarity.
MLA John Yap told the Richmond News Langer skipped a meeting with him last year. Langer acknowledged doing so, calling a previous meeting with Yap “useless.”
The group is now fundraising money to pay for legal fees. It requires close to $20,000, said Langer, who will be hosting a burger and drink event on Oct. 1 at the Buck and Ear Pub and Grill.
Pending VAPOR has enough money to proceed, the challenge could be heard as early as early next year.
