Vancouver hits back at “ignorance” claims

A new political action committee, Taxpayers for a Responsible Public Port, says it’s concerned about the port’s handling of the lease for the new facility and its overall ignorance of the public interest.

On its website, the committee says: “While the Port is supposed to be an economic engine for good, the Commissioners have gambled our economic and environmental future on ill advised ‘commodity deals.’”

But, in response to more claims that it held “secret” meetings over the lease decision, which displayed “an intolerant attitude to taxpayers- the true owners of the port”, the port told Port Strategy it “understands the political committee’s concerns and agrees that ‘ports are public and should be transparent and accountable’”.

The committee also says requests to reconsider the oil terminal decision and to hold a public forum were rejected, but, a port spokesperson said to PS:“Prior to signing the lease, we held five public workshops to receive information from experts on issues related to the movement of crude oil. These workshops included the opportunity for public input, and we received many comments.”

The port adds that there are multiple opportunities for public input as the project moves through the rigorous Washington state Energy Facility Siting Evaluation Council (EFSEC) process, particularly during the permitting and adjudicative processes.

Board president, Commissioner Nancy Baker, explained: “Hearing from the public is very important to everything we do at the Port of Vancouver. We’re often expected to operate like private industry so we have the flexibility to attract industry, jobs and investment to the region. But we’re a public agency with many responsibilities to our community, and we feel those responsibilities deeply.”

“I believe we made a decision based on what we felt was in the best interest of the port and the community. We all did our due diligence before approving the lease, and none of us made our decision lightly,” she concluded.

Taxpayers for a Responsible Public Port is now looking to take a seat on the US Port of Vancouver’s three-member board of commissioners, with the hope of putting “the public back in charge of the port”. So far, US$2,000 has been raised.

“It’s time to put ‘the people’ back in charge of ‘the port’,” the committee’s website adds. “We choose to do this through the ballot box. Incumbent port commissioners must be held responsible for jeopardising our community’s economy and environment.”