Concerns raised as Vancouver explores restricting grant recipient critiques

There are concerns a push from Vancouver City Council to ensure respectful dialogue from non-profit organizations seeking city grants could go too far.

Specifically, some organizations argue this could stifle legitimate criticism of local government.

It comes after the majority ABC council asked city staff to explore ways to ensure grant recipients “communicate to, about, and with city officials in a respectful manner.”

One of the organizations speaking out is First United, a social service agency operating on the Downtown Eastside.

Its interim Executive Director Amanda Burrows says non-profits need to be able to critique government when appropriate, without fear of losing grant funding.

“Especially when we’re in the non-profit sector like we are, in social services, not just providing the services, but also trying to advocate for deep social change, we have to speak truth to power, we have to keep our elected public officials accountable,” Burrows told CityNews in an interview.

“And if we can’t do that by criticizing, respectfully criticizing, that’s pure silencing.”

OneCity coun. Christine Boyle actually voted for an amendment put forward by ABC coun. Peter Meiszner pushing for the respectful dialogue approach — but now says she regrets her decision.

“My plan is to follow up with staff to clarify what work comes next,” Boyle told CityNews in an interview. “The direction is concerning to me and I want to make sure I understand if it is headed in a concerning direction, and be able to make the public aware of that so we can all push back together.”

New Westminster city coun. Nadine Nakagawa has been watching the Vancouver situation play out and critiqued the approach on social media.

She feels this is an example of using power to silence.

“It’s really important that organizations and individuals who are working to build a better community, that are doing important work with seniors, with racialized communities…on some of the most pressing issues in our communities, are allowed to express their real opinions, that they don’t have to modify those or keep those quiet,” Nakagawa told CityNews in an interview. “They really are often experts and so their perspectives are valuable.

“So, if a city is not doing what they should do on homelessness, for example, an organization that works in homelessness should absolutely be able to say that they need to be doing more. That is not a respectful workplace violation. That is a very real criticism of policies and priorities.”

Regardless, Meiszner’s amendment received unanimous support this week at city hall.