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OUR VIEW: Sometimes your voice matters, other times not so much

Change of heart, where vox populi – the voice of the people – is concerned?
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A recent rally against a land development project in east Newton. (Now-Leader).

It is common practice for city politicians to explain why they voted a certain way on a proposed development project, particularly if it’s a controversial one.

Surrey Councillor Tom Gill was first out of the gate on Tuesday, when council approved a proposal for Eaglequest Surrey Coyote Creek golf course.

He voted against it.

“Based upon what I’ve seen over the last two nights, I’m not in a position to be able to support an application that has upwards of 3,000 people that have concerns,” he said at the meeting.

You see, more than 2,800 people opposed to the development had signed a petition.

One may question why Gill’s same reasoning did not apply to the “Save Hawthorne Park” movement.

They collected 12,244 signatures on a petition opposed to city hall’s plan to run a connector road through the park and yet Gill presented a motion to accept the report that authorized staff to proceed with the work.

As a footnote, Mr. Gill indicated to us last August that he doesn’t place much truck in petitions.

“I’m just telling you that my experience tells me that there are many times when petitions go around that people are unaware, are in a hurry, they sign things just to be able to carry on with their business,” he said at the time.

So what gives, Mr. Gill?

Change of heart, where vox populi – the voice of the people – is concerned?

READ ALSO: Surrey approves controversial development at Eaglequest golf course

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