Mackinnon is using politics to cloud the issues, as per usual.
I have documented before how Park Board Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon is prone to political grandstanding.
Mackinnon’s upcoming motion on forcing a plebiscite on cetaceans in captivity onto the 2011 ballot is just the latest example of this tendency.
Here is the text of the motion:
AND WHEREAS a plebiscite is a non binding democratic tool to survey the public sentiment;
Seems reasonable, considering the death of baby beluga Nala last month. Right?
Wrong.
A press release from Park Board Chair Aaron Jasper gives a little more context. Here are some excerpts:
“On Monday, November 26, 2006, the previous NPA majority Vancouver Park Board voted to “amend the term of the current Stanley Park Aquarium Agreement to extend the license to 20 years.” As part of that amendment, it was also decided that “it is the Board’s intention that in 2015 the board review the Parks Control By-law relating to captive cetaceans” (a decision that passed with 4 votes from the NPA in favour, and 2 votes against from the opposition).
“The fact is that under these terms, the issue of cetaceans in captivity is moot until 2015, and bringing forth such a motion puts the taxpayers of Vancouver at considerable risk from a lawsuit.”
“Regardless of our personal feelings on the matter, we as elected representatives have a responsibility to put the interests of our constituents ahead of petty politics.”
A debate on having whales in captivity is reasonable and even appropriate in light of recent events.
Accordingly, Stuart jumped on this in interviews with Rick Cluff on CBC and Bill Good on CKNW, saying that there was a contradiction between Vision Vancouver’s desire for consultation with the public and Aaron Jasper non-support for the proposed plebiscite.
What a load of crap.
First, it was the former NPA Park Board that locked the current Commissioners into the deal that they are currently dealing with. No bylaw changes can be considered, as per the contract signed with the Vancouver Aquarium, until 2015.
Which of course means that a Park Board initiated plebiscite constitutes a breach of this agreement, which in turn is grounds for a substantial lawsuit against Vancouver’s taxpayers.
Furthermore, Mackinnon’s line that this is the last opportunity to seek out the public’s position on this issue before 2015 without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a stand-alone plebiscite is ridiculous. Why would you use polling from 2011 to make a decision in 2015? And if the ability for the Park Board to change the parameters of their policy on whales in captivity comes into play again 2015, why wouldn’t you just attach the question onto the 2015 electoral ballot instead?
The logic of Mackinnon’s arguments are deeply flawed.
No one is doubting that he truly believes that whales should not be kept in captivity. That is an issue that he seems to be legitimately passionate about. And, there are no doubt others on the Park Board who share his sentiments.
However, with the knowledge that nothing can truly be done until 2015, and that initiating such a plebiscite would place great financial risk atop the shoulders of the Vancouver electorate, his motion turns into nothing more than political posturing to gain a little attention.
And that is an irresponsible and quite frankly selfish position to take as a public servant.
Now that he has heard the staff’s opinion that a lawsuit is likely if his motion passes, Mackinnon would be wise to pull the motion in the name of protecting the public coffers.
But for a guy whose party has absolutely no profile, and who will be fighting for his political life in the next election, this kind of politics makes perfect sense.
Just not for those who care about fiscal responsibility.
