Gassing up in Port Moody will come with a dire climate change warning, even though the councillors backing the motion requiring gas stations to affix warning labels on their pumps admit it's not likely to turn down global temperatures.
At Tuesday's committee of the whole meeting, PoMo council narrowly voted in favour of a plan to force local gas stations, which are independently owned, to install climate change warning labels supplied by the city on their pump handles — at the stations' expense.
The proposal drew mixed reactions from council members, with those who supported the move acknowledging it isn't likely to make any discernible difference in driving behaviour and those who spoke against it cautioning the city is acting outside of its jurisdiction.
Coun. Zoe Royer urged council to support a plan in which city staff would create and provide labels bearing a strong warning message to PoMo's four gas stations, which would then install them on pump handles. She also suggested PoMo use labels that show a strong link between burning fossil fuels and the effects of climate change instead of educational-style stickers that remind drivers to ensure tires are properly filled and vehicles are well maintained to heighten fuel efficiency.
"To me, climate change is the biggest issue faced by people today," said Coun. Rick Glumac, who favoured the positive messaging approach. "This is not going to solve it but if it's something we can do to raise awareness… this isn't a hindrance or burden to anybody, this is just a friendly reminder."
Not everyone agreed.
Coun. Diana Dilworth said the city would be "interfering with small businesses" and going outside its jurisdiction in forcing gas station owners to install the labels.
"Demanding that four small businesses promote a message they might not support, at their own cost, and at the detriment potentially of their own business, is just wrong," she said, adding some gas stations use the pump toppers to promote their own products or sell it as advertising space and it could cost them additional revenue on top of the label cost.
A staff report stated two of the four stations have nozzle toppers already installed; the cost for the design and printing of labels would be about $150 for each station. The stations without toppers would have to install them at a cost of about $128 for the Esso station and $256 for Chevron, in addition to the label cost.
But Royer — who has in the past opposed proposals for pay parking in Rocky Point Park because it might hurt surrounding businesses — suggested the gas pump labels wouldn't have much impact on the business owners, given that the cost is not significant and there aren't many alternatives to fuelling up at the gas pump.
"If it's not going to affect people purchasing gas, then admittedly this is a complete waste of time," said Mayor Mike Clay. "If you support this, then you want it to stop people from buying gas."
He suggested a more effective way to combat climate change would be to have supported the transit referendum last year, which Glumac did not, and fund other transit initiatives.
Reached on Thursday, Clay estimated the staff time, resources and legal opinions on the gas pump labels have likely cost the city about $10,000 so far. It's money that could be put to better use, he said, particularly because gas station owners do not appear to have been consulted on the matter and could launch a legal challenge.
The committee of the whole decision, which has yet to be endorsed at a full council meeting, carried, with Clay and councillors Dilworth and Meghan Lahti opposed.
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