How Much More Are We Willing to Risk

 How Much More Are We Willing to Risk?

City Council has voted unanimously in favour of the massive floating barge spa in Heritage Harbour.

Now ask yourselves: Was this truly the best use of public time, energy, and resources?

I walk and cycle through this area almost every day. I see the congestion. I hear the emergency vehicles struggling through traffic. I watch Chestnut Street deteriorate under the weight of construction traffic while residents are told to wait for repairs until the Sen̓áḵw project is complete.

Adding another major destination to this already stressed waterfront raises legitimate questions about traffic, emergency access, infrastructure, and public safety.

And then there is the environmental reality.

British Columbia is burning. Communities are evacuating. Firefighters are risking their lives. Governments at every level tell us we must reduce emissions, protect ecosystems, and prepare for a changing climate.

Yet somehow, we are moving ahead with a giant commercial barge in one of Vancouver's most iconic waterfront locations.

Have we learned nothing?

This coast is no stranger to powerful winter storms. We have all seen what can happen when barges break free. We remember vessels drifting for months after storms, creating enormous risks and expensive recovery efforts. It only takes one failure, one extreme weather event, one miscalculation.

Who carries the responsibility if something goes wrong?

Who pays for the cleanup?

Who protects the harbour?

Public officials are elected to think beyond today's ribbon-cutting ceremony. Their responsibility is to weigh long-term environmental risks, infrastructure pressures, public safety, and fiscal responsibility—not simply approve projects because they sound exciting or promise revenue.

Vancouver deserves thoughtful planning, not decisions that leave residents wondering whether anyone asked the difficult questions.

Development should serve the public interest, protect our environment, and respect the unique character of our waterfront.

The vote may be over, but public scrutiny should not be.

This project still faces significant hurdles, and those reviewing it must do so with clear eyes, scientific evidence, and the courage to say no if the risks outweigh the benefits.

Our harbour is not an experiment.

It is part of our shared natural heritage.

Let's start treating it that way.