MLA Gordon Hogg says ridicule from his provincial government colleagues over White Rock’s Spirit Square “debacle” will not sway his commitment to work in the community’s best interests.

But council’s “dysfunctional” handling of the whole process – including assurances to provincial government, “right to the vote,” that everything was on track – may tarnish similar endeavours in the future, he warned.

“My colleagues, they’ve said, ‘what’s up with White Rock council?’” Hogg (Surrey-White Rock) said, noting he heard often in past months from MLAs wishing their community could have secured the support White Rock won.

Now, “they’ve sort of been laughing at me – you provide half a million dollars to a community to do some good things and this is what happens.”

White Rock began pursuing the project 18 months ago, eventually asking the province for the maximum grant. The city was one of about 16 B.C. communities successful in their request – and the only one to change its mind.

In April, when Hogg announced the victory, he told members of the Spirit Square stakeholders team: “It’s out of recognition that this is perhaps the most spectacular place for a Spirit Square on the Pacific Northwest.”

At that time, Mayor Judy Forster described the process as one of the best she’s seen in her entire career in municipal politics.

Thursday, two days after council voted to drop the project, Hogg told Peace Arch News the process was flawed, particularly in council’s inability to work as a team.

“It seems that, from the beginning, the essence was not being able to be addressed by White Rock very well,” Hogg said. “I knew from the beginning that doing this in an election year presented extra challenges. I was hoping that because they had unanimously motioned from the beginning, they would be able to work through that.

“It’s unfortunate... that somehow the council prevented our community from benefiting from something that many communities around the province are benefiting from. It should’ve been a positive story – and they made it controversial.

“Our community had a chance to develop a place for people to celebrate, to celebrate our history. We don’t have a place and we still won’t now... and that’s council’s fault.”

Hogg said the city’s application was reviewed after Tuesday’s decision, and no good reason was found for why council would backtrack.

“This is exactly what they applied for, where they applied for it,” he said. “Obviously, there’s something going on here. There’s something very dysfunctional.”

Hogg described his own feelings on the outcome as “more sad than mad.” He said he doesn’t know whether there’s any possibility of going back to the original funding offered to proceed with a scaled-back Spirit Square effort, as suggested this week by Coun. Stewart Peddemors. However, he did say the process is “more complex now than it’s ever been.”

“We can’t go through another debacle like this,” Hogg said.

“Even if I’m supporting it, they’re going to look at me with a jaundiced eye – if I support something like that and it falls apart again.”

He added the city is still on the hook for “a lot of money” with the project, to cover costs including that associated with hiring a planner.

“They’ve cost taxpayers a whole lot of money that’s not going to result in any product.”

Taking off his MLA hat for a moment, Hogg said that as a resident, he expects politicians to be accountable and responsible.

“For them to go out and spend all that money and then decide, ‘we changed our mind’ – I’d like to see a more progressive, responsible way of dealing with issues than that,” he said.

“I think the citizens, the community, must wonder what’s going on as well. My office was continually being assured not to worry, we’ll work through the issues.

“That’s not what happened.”