Port Coquitlam’s mayor and two city councillors are planning to demonstrate tonight (Wednesday) outside a reception at the Union of BC Municipalities convention hosted by China.
They oppose the host’s human rights violations and potential influence with local governments and school districts in B.C.
Mayor Brad West and councillors Nancy McCurrach and Glenn Pollock said they plan join a contingent from the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement and the Canadian Friends of Hong Kong outside the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where the reception for the Union of BC Municipalities delegates will take place, for the “Say No To China” rally.
West said the purpose of the protest is to send a message to the Chinese government about detaining two Canadians — largely seen as a response for the arrest on Canadian soil of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou — and to gain support for PoCo council’s resolution that will go to a UBCM vote on Friday.
That resolution, which is being backed by Delta city council, calls on the UBCM to stop foreign sponsorship at its conventions.
The topic is also being studied by an independent review panel appointed by the UBCM.
This morning (Wednesday), a poll by the review panel showed 44.9% of delegates “strongly disagreed” with foreign government sponsorship at UBCM conventions while 19.6% disagreed — for a total of almost 65% against.
West said given the escalating tension between the two countries, the UBCM should have cancelled the Chinese reception.
“It’s a matter of principle," he said. "Lengthy consultation about a hostile government is not needed.”
But Coquitlam Coun. Craig Hodge, who is the Metro Vancouver representative on the UBCM executive and a city delegate, said the UBCM recommendation for Friday’s vote is to wait until the review panel comes out with its report in January.
• Go to tricitynews.com on Friday to see the results of the UBCM vote on foreign sponsorship.
