Outbursts of “Shame!” and “Moratorium!” shook the cramped hall at the park board office Monday night as spectators unleashed the full range of their frustration after keeping it somewhat in check while commissioners debated the future of cetaceans at the Vancouver Aquarium.
The angry shouts were directed at the seven commissioners but turned to target John Nightingale, the president and CEO of the Vancouver Aquarium, who was sitting in the gallery in the back row.
Heightened emotions and anger, much of it directed at commissioners and then to the public face of the aquarium, John Nightingale. #vanpoli pic.twitter.com/eFjKoGRDoq
— Megan Stewart (@MHStewart) January 24, 2017
Demonstrators passed out signs that read, “The public demands a whale referendum,” but those opposed to cetaceans being held at the aquarium are not uniform in their preferred political outcome. Some called for a moratorium on whales and dolphins at the aquarium while waiting for the results of plebiscite, if approved, close to two years from now.
Vision commissioner Catherine Evans tabled the motion to defer discussion on the plebiscite, arguing it was a “blunt tool” that did not offer enough information or agency to the park board but instead passes off responsibility to city council to approve.
A voice from the crowd interrupted her: “We want something immediately."
Chairman Michael Wiebe, a Green Party commissioner, used his gavel for the third or fourth time to silence the gallery.
Leveraging information from staff that a report could be delivered in as little as a month’s time, Evans said the park board must take a greater stance on the issue of cetaceans in captivity.
A plebiscite, she said “Is not the only tool of democracy and not necessarily the best tool of democracy,” while adding, “We may just be punting it off and not taking our responsibility. I would like there to be other options available to us. […] If council said, ‘No,’ and we are not going to have a referendum question added to the ballot, we would be back to nowhere then.”
Sarah Kirby-Yung, the NPA commissioner who first brought forward the motion on the plebiscite, suggested Evans’ request for a deferral was a “delay tactic.”
Fellow NPAer John Coupar was drowned out by both jeers and applause when he took the floor and said, “I don’t understand what we need a report on.” He was making the point that a referral had deterred the opportunity for a possibly plebiscite in the past.
Stuart Mackinnon, the Green Party commissioner who argued for a plebiscite in 2010 as a park board commissioner, supported the deferral.
“I came fully expecting to support the motion as it stood. The referral disturbed me because I wasn’t sure when that would come back --- six months, nine months, in a year --- but the general manager has assured us probably in a month staff could come back with a report," he said.
When he brought forward a similar motion, the park board was subject to different rules but when he said “it’s important to hear from the public,” he too was drowned out by shouts from the crowd.
“We have been heard and heard. We keep talking,” said one voice.
And, “Science keeps talking,” shouted another.
A woman stood in the second row and asked how the commissioners might feel if they lived in a bath tub for 20 years.
The board elected to defer the decision on the plebiscite.
Kirby-Yung, Coupar and third NPA commissioner Casey Crawford voted against the motion to defer.
Evans, Wiebe, Mackinnon and Erin Shum supported the deferral.
Staff will prepare a report for the board.
