Burnaby scuttles controversial proposal to build waste facility in parkland
City councillors in Burnaby, B.C., have abandoned a controversial proposal that would have seen parkland paved over for a green recycling and organic waste facility.
During a special meeting Monday, councillors voted unanimously to cancel a public vote on whether to move forward with constructing the facility within Fraser Foreshore Park.
"I'm pleased that city council spoke with one voice in recognition that the public does not support the use of parkland for this project," Mayor Mike Hurley said in a statement.
"We'll continue to explore other locations for this project and will also continue to seek other ways to make rapid progress on climate. We know big, bold moves are needed to achieve our climate action targets."
Officials previously said they had conducted an exhaustive search for lands that would be suitable for the green recycling and organic waste facility, but found nothing else big enough within city limits.
But the proposal to build in Fraser Foreshore Park – which was acquired by Burnaby in 2004 as a wetland habitat – was met with fierce community backlash.
Josh Wong, a member of the SaveFraserForeshorePark campaign, expressed concerns that moving forward with the proposal would set "a precedent for future generations."
"Once a parkland like this is bulldozed over, there's no coming back,” Wong told CTV News last week. “This is one of the most biodiverse parks in Burnaby, which is one of the last standing marshlands situated along the lower Fraser River.”
The public vote was scheduled to take place until April 28, with Burnaby residents able to deliver their ballot by mail or in person. In a news release, the city said it will be issuing notices about the cancellation of the process "as soon as practicable."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Abigail Turner
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Liberals still have faith in David Johnston's work on foreign meddling: House leader
Government House leader Mark Holland says the federal Liberals still have faith in the man they appointed to investigate the issue of foreign interference in Canadian elections.

Early estimates indicate 200 structures damaged in Halifax-area wildfire
Approximately 200 homes or structures have been damaged by the wildfire that began burning Sunday in the Upper Tantallon, N.S., area, according to preliminary estimates.
Federal politicians congratulate Alberta's Danielle Smith on election win
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is congratulating Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her election win, after she called out his 'harmful' energy policies in her victory speech.
Top AI CEOs, experts raise 'risk of extinction' from AI
Top artificial intelligence executives including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday joined experts and professors in raising the 'risk of extinction from AI,' which they urged policymakers to equate at par with risks posed by pandemics and nuclear war.
Toronto Blue Jays player shares anti-LGBTQ2S+ video telling people why they should boycott Target
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Anthony Bass has garnered social media attention once again after sharing an anti-LGBTQ2S+ video on his Instagram.
Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta
Danielle Smith is still the premier of Alberta, surviving a vigorous campaign and a tight vote Monday against NDP challenger Rachel Notley.
opinion | Don Martin: The lessons for Pierre Poilievre from the Alberta election
Danielle Smith's win in the Alberta election hands her the most starkly divided province confronting any premier in Canada, writes commentator Don Martin.
'This has been called a genocide': New book details the fight for missing, murdered Indigenous women, girls
New investigative book 'Unbroken' shares the stories of families raising awareness for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
opinion | Tom Mulcair: David Johnston should leave graciously while he still can
If indeed a majority of the House of Commons says David Johnston has to step down, he'll have no choice but he shouldn’t wait to be shoved. He should leave graciously while he still can, writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair.