The Editor,
Re. "Hall of a change" (The Tri-City News, April 29).
On the Port Moody fire hall referendum voting day, I took my six-year-old daughter with me to the polling station. We talked about what voting is, how it works and what a responsibility and privilege it is.
When we saw the results a day or two later, we noted the low voter turnout numbers and she sagely commented, "Oh well, I guess those people just have to live with what other people pick."Apparently, my six-year-old was able to concisely sum up what our elected councillors seemed to forget.
The referendum issue was covered in the local newspapers numerous times, in the Port Moody Focus mail-out from the city, another direct mailing from the city, advance poll notices as well as various social media outlets and the city's website. For the odd person who claims they didn't know about the referendum, I suspect that's more of a statement of their general awareness. Nor is it relevant; if people don't turn out to vote for whatever reason, the results still stand. People need to live with their action or, in this case, inaction. As does city council.
Whatever the reason for the low turnout, Port Moody council's decision to over-rule the outcome of the referendum is shameful.
It seems now that certain council members already knew they didn't want to borrow the funds but didn't have the courage to actually say no to the lobbying fire department and instead advocated for a costly public referendum, hoping they could use the public to do their dirty work.
Kudos to the two councillors who acknowledged those of us who voted and were prepared to abide by voter decision. As for the rest of council, do not hold referenda if you are not prepared to live with the results.
Now I have to go explain to my daughter what a farce the responsibility of voting just turned out to be.
Alison Ferguson,Port Moody
