Henderson’s Climate Lawsuit Proposal Sparks Heated Council Debate

Councillor Tasha Henderson presented a motion to consider joining a climate change lawsuit targeting major oil companies, at the October 7th New Westminster City Council meeting, sparking intense debate among council members. The proposal, part of the Sue Big Oil movement, aims to hold fossil fuel corporations financially responsible for the rising costs of climate-related damages, including sea level rise, floods, and heatwaves.

Deni Loubert – Local Journalism Initiative

Henderson highlighted the growing support for the lawsuit, noting that **nine municipalities** across British Columbia have already joined, including Burnaby, Gibsons, and Port Moody. These cities, like New Westminster, are grappling with increasing infrastructure costs due to climate-related impacts. "Cities across the province are uniting to hold Big Oil accountable," Henderson said. "We’re spending millions protecting our city—it’s time the oil companies pay their share."

Councillor Daniel Fontaine pushed back, repeatedly focusing on what he called hypocrisy in the city’s climate policy. He argued that while New Westminster sought to sue Big Oil, it continued to accept carbon credits partially funded by the same oil companies. "How can we sue these companies while simultaneously taking their money through carbon credits?" Fontaine asked. "It's contradictory and undermines our credibility."

Fontaine returned to the carbon credit issue throughout the debate, urging the city to stop accepting funds from Big Oil and focus instead on local climate solutions. Henderson countered, stating, "This is about holding corporations accountable, not about cutting off funds that help mitigate the crisis they created."

After a robust discussion, the city council ultimately voted to instruct staff to look into the feasibility of joining the lawsuit, indicating a willingness to explore the proposal further.