In a charged New Westminster City Council meeting on October 7th, over 15 community delegates came out in support of Councillor Tasha Henderson's motion to join a climate change lawsuit targeting major oil companies. The proposal is part of the Sue Big Oil movement in British Columbia, which seeks to hold oil corporations accountable for the rising costs of climate-related damage, including flooding, heatwaves, and stormwater infrastructure upgrades.

Deni Loubert – Local Initiative Journalism

Councillor Henderson passionately argued that municipalities, including New Westminster, are bearing the financial brunt of climate change. "We've already spent millions on protecting our city from climate disasters. It’s time those responsible contribute their share," she said.

The strong turnout from community members reflected growing local support for the Sue Big Oil initiative. Many of the delegates expressed frustration over the lack of accountability from fossil fuel companies and stressed the importance of the city joining other municipalities in pursuing legal action.

However, the meeting quickly turned into a contentious debate, with Councillor Daniel Fontaine opposing the lawsuit. Fontaine argued that local, practical solutions should take precedence over expensive legal battles, also calling for the city to withdraw from the carbon credit program. "This lawsuit won’t provide the real solutions we need right now. Let’s focus on what works locally," he said.

The council remains divided, and further discussion is expected in upcoming meetings. This is part one of a two-part series covering the October 7th meeting. While this segment focuses on the role of community delegates, the next part will delve into Henderson's proposal and the ensuing council discussions.