Four years ago the giant and controversial retailer, Wal-Mart, applied toVancouver City Council to build one of its huge stores on South East MarineDrive, a major thoroughfare. A new zoning designation called HighwayOriented Retail allowed for such big box stores, though such designationwas discretionary. In other words, Council still had the authority to say“no” if there were extenuating circumstances.

The extenuating circumstance was the citizens’ group Building BetterNeighbourhoods, which represented citizen opposition in the area. One of itsfounding members was Anne Roberts who was elected to City Council in 2002when the progressive civic party, COPE, won by a landslide.

It was not an easy victory. Wal-Mart really wanted this store in partbecause every large city on the West Coast of North America had said no toWal-Mart — including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. In order toplease city council and demonstrate that it could fit in with the city’slaid-back and progressive traditions, Wal-Mart agreed to a “green” conceptthat saw it hire a green building architect. The result was an energyefficient building with sky lights, a system for using rainwater fortoilets, and three windmills to produce electricity. The parking lot was tohave the appearance of an orchard with hundreds of dogwood trees (theofficial B.C. tree).

But in the end the green concept was not enough. Outspoken COPE councillorTim Louis stated “a munitions factory with sky lights and windmills isstill a munitions factory.” While the decision on Wal-Mart was supposed tobe a land use decision only, the majority of those speaking to the issue atcity council referred to the record of Wal-Mart — its illegal use of childlabour and illegal immigrants, the subject of the largest genderdiscrimination suit in U.S. history, and its ferocious anti-union reputation.The corporation’s decision to close a store in Quebec because its workersdared to unionize and demand higher wages, was referred to by manypresenters. The city’s unions — also funders of COPE — were prominent amongopponents to the store.

The Council also turned down a Canadian Tire application — for an evenlarger store than the Wal-Mart — in the same area. Both were officiallyturned down on the basis that they contradicted the city’s commitment tomaking Vancouver a city of viable neighbourhoods. Local residents opposedthe stores on the basis of the additional 18,000 cars a day that wouldtravel to the neighbourhood and the added pollution that would entail.

The vote was expected to be much closer than the overwhelming 8-3 decision.The COPE-dominated council has been split over the past year into so-calledCOPE-classic and COPE-lite, with the lights often taking a more pro-businessstance. COPE-lite often prevailed with the help of the two business partycouncillors. That combination saw a P3 rapid transit line approved lastyear.

The vote has a do with the civic election slated for the fall. Theleft/centre political alliances are in flux. The COPE-lite group formed aparty-within-a-party called Friends of Larry [Mayor Larry Campbell] and the possibility existed ofa separate campaign.

But now Campbell has announced heis not running again, leaving the three centrist “Friends” councillors in adilemma of where to go. Without the coattails of the mayor to assist them,the three may have voted no simply to retain some semblance of progressivecredentials. Despite the decision of his council-mates, the mayor voted forWal-Mart.

Those attending the dramatic council meeting reported that Wal-Martrepresentatives were livid. There is no word what action they may take butgiven the huge investment of time and money this one isn’t over quite yet. ACanadian Tire spokesperson said they would meet with city officials to seewhat their next steps would be.

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Murray Dobbin

Murray Dobbin was rabble.ca's Senior Contributing Editor. He was a journalist, broadcaster, author and social activist for over 40 years. A board member and researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy...