There was a spirit of cooperation and good will in the room at yesterday's signing. Photo Credit: The Vancouver Observer
Yesterday’s Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Vancouver and the Squamish Nation aims to, according to Stephen Hui of the Georgia Straight:
“establish a cooperative government-to-government relationship for the purpose of sharing information, improving communications, addressing specific concerns, setting a solid foundation for future planning and raising awareness and understanding of Squamish Nation title, rights and responsibilities and the rights of the City under the Vancouver Charter”.
Both parties agreed to collaboration – let me repeat that word – collaboration – on governance, intergovernmental relations, economic development, cultural and heritage protection, tourism, environmental protection, land use planning and management, zoning processes, capacity building, shared/reciprocal service delivery, transportation initiatives, and sustainable healthy communities.
These areas of mutual interest go far beyond symbolism, as establishing a cooperative “government-to-government” relationship is a foundation upon which to grow together, which is particularly important for a nation that has 60 per cent of its population under the age of 25.
Contrast this with the approach that was taken by former NPA Park Board commissioner Marty Zlotnik towards the Musqueam band and supported by former Mayor Sam Sullivan, and you will see just one of the differences in priorities at City Hall between then and now.
Readers might remember Zlotnik’s fight to keep his beloved UBC golf course out of the hands of the Musqueam. Zlotnik and merry band of west side ball whackers were up in arms when the Premier – their boy – contemplated the UBC golf course handover as part of the Musqueam land claim.
The attitudes of this group were epitomized by the comments of University of British Columbia athletics and recreation professor emeritus Bob Hindmarch:
“We believe that this golf course has been a vital recreation resource and an important part of the social fabric of Vancouver since 1929, particularly those of us who are lucky enough to live in Point Grey.“
Exactly. Enough said. That was the profile of the typical NPA supporter then, and unfortunately for those poor unfortunate souls still in the mix with that sorry group, that profile continues on.
Their efforts to campaign in favour of giving up a portion of Pacific Spirit Regional Park involved a lot of false information and fear mongering, largely by Zlotnik himself:
“The thought of billboards, casinos, commercial development, all that sort of stuff, is not something I particularly relish.”
Zlotnik was speculating without any basis of proof for such claims, but hey…whatever it takes so that he could enjoy his round on Sunday. He argued that it would be a loss to the public because the course provided lower rates for rounds of golf than many other courses around the city.
As Park Board Commissioner Loretta Woodcock clarified at the time, however:
“It is a privately run for-profit operation that is leased and happens to sit on Crown land. The eight-percent commission that the government receives from this course equals $450,000 a year. So there is a lot of money that is being made out of this course. It is not about saving a public golf course. It is about saving a private golf course that is accessible to the public.”
Readers might also remember that Zlotnik was a frequent absentee from Park Board meetings because of his part time living arrangements in Palm Springs. He is still spends much of his year down there, and still enjoys his golf (a recent park board meeting received his regrets on not being able to speak on a local program designed to encourage golf and proper training for young people).
Ultimately, Zlotnik’s buddy Premier Gordon Campbell didn’t listen, and his government signed struck a deal with the Musqueam that included control of the course.
Zlotnik used a scorched earth policy, and what did Mayor Sam Sullivan do in response? He condoned it, and in fact, insulated his NPA colleague:
“Sullivan ruled COPE Coun. David Cadman’s motion out of order when he requested city council go on record as opposing any proposal or plan that would reduce or give away any portion of Pacific Spirit Regional Park.”
“Basically what we have here is Sam the dictator, and if he doesn’t like what’s being raised, he won’t hear it. Fundamentally, we are losing the democratic ability as elected officials to represent the interests of our constituents.”
So here is reason number 653 as to why it is good to have a government in place that balances priorities and believes in the spirit of cooperation and social justice.
Thank goodness City Hall will no longer be a place where advocacy on behalf of the priveleged few and their golf games is a common practice.
