21 – LESSONS FROM THE PAST INFORM THE FUTURE IN METRO VANCOUVER: With new political commitment, rebuild the coalition
Note to Reader:
In November 2024, the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia released THE SYNOPSIS for the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver. The Chronicle is a sweeping narrative of the 30-year period from 1994 through 2024. The Chronicle is a layered package comprising four documents: the Chronicle of the Journey, Stories Within the Story, Synopsis and Executive Summary. The target audience for each layer is different.
The Synopsis is the third layer in the cascade. It is oriented to senior managers who have limited time to absorb what they need to know to make informed decisions. The Synopsis is visual and so can easily be skimmed in 20 minutes or less! This extract is from pages S34 and S35.
Knowing What We Know, Now What?
“A local government reality is that staff can only carry things so far. With political commitment, however, one can get the ball rolling. And when someone who is elected commands respect and is THE CHAMPION, momentum can quickly accelerate. That is the lesson we collectively learned through experience in the 2000s,” wrote Kim Stephens, Synopsis author and Partnership Executive Director.
“In the 2000s. Ray Fung chaired the BC Water Sustainability Committee (2003-2008) and the Green Infrastructure Partnership (2008-2010), Both were rolled into the Partnership for Water Sustainability upon incorporation as a non-profit legal entity in 2010.”
When there is self-interest + political commitment…
“Knowing what we know, it is not as simple as going from an X to a tick mark in each column. You have to build new political commitment and basically start all over again in a new crucible phase…where you coalition-build to develop a new shared vision, etc.,” states Ray Fung.
“What combination of public self-interest and political lever will it take to effect change? One of my legacy projects illustrates leveraging a political moment to make a difference. My story is about why we got commitment to implement a universal water metering program.”
“My municipality was in the media spotlight because we were perceived to be the Metro region’s water hogs. This was not a label that Council wanted to own or wear. The other factor that helped get support for universal metering was human nature.”
“You believe it is your neighbour who is wasting water, not you. And you do not want to subsidize your neighbour who waters their lawn 24 hours a day. It was that self-interest plus political commitment that was more persuasive than language about equity, efficiency and water conservation benefits.”
With new political commitment, rebuild the coalition
“The image (below) illustrates the cascading factors that must all be in alignment to effect change. All it takes is one factor to be out of alignment and that can be enough to derail a process and progress,” explains Kim Stephens.
“In the 2010s, water and salmon were overtaken by transportation. As of 2024, it is all about housing. To overcome amnesia and refocus minds on how everything is connected in a system, REFRAME THE GOAL in ways that will restore political support for creating livable communities that also protect stream health,” observes Ray Fung.
“Before one can fix a problem, others who are able to make a difference must also believe that there is a problem, as well as understand the reasons why this is the case and that there are affordable and effective solutions. Getting to that starting point requires conversations with listeners who both care and then care enough to build a new coalition and champion solutions,” concludes Kim Stephens.
To Learn More:
Download a copy of the Synopsis of the Chronicle of Green Infrastructure Innovation in Metro Vancouver from 1994 through 2024. released in November 2024. The Synopsis is structured as six sections.
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/gi/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/Metro-Van-Chronicle_Synopsis_DRAFT_Nov2024.pdf