Petition: Delay the Main Street Filipino Cultural Centre & Hotel Motion Pending Review by the City’s Integrity Commissioner
We call on Vancouver City Council to pause consideration of the proposed Main Street Filipino Cultural Centre and Hotel until an official opinion from the City’s Integrity Commissioner has been provided and all outstanding concerns are addressed.
The City of Vancouver has re-released the motion, now moved to the December 10 Council meeting. It remains the same and does not address the concerns that were raised. On top of that, they will not be taking speakers this round.
It’s more important than ever to continue sharing your voice. Let’s make sure City Council hears us. We support a centre, but it must be done right.
Sign and share the petition to ensure the Filipino community’s needs, transparency, and accountability come first.
During the November 26th, 2025 Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities meeting, city councillors raised serious concerns about this project. We echo these concerns and emphasize that the following issues must be addressed before any decision is made:
Transparency and disclosure: Material facts were not shared, including court filings showing the developer is facing foreclosure and ongoing negotiations with the City and Province that leveraged the pending motion to delay foreclosure. Decisions should not proceed without full, public information.
Conflict of interest and ethical considerations: Potential issues under the Councillor Code of Conduct were highlighted, including influence, preferential treatment, improper influence, and the use of municipal resources. These concerns underscore the need for integrity and accountability in decision-making. (CODE OF CONDUCT BY-LAW NO. 12886)
Community priorities and collaboration: The proposed motion risks alienating long-standing cultural practitioners and grassroots groups. A meaningful Filipino cultural centre must be built through inclusive consultation, co-creation, and the spirit of Bayanihan (community).
Project readiness: The proposal involves a brand-new organization, a developer with a checkered reputation, financial instability, and irregularities with land titles. A sustainable, long-term community centre cannot be built under these conditions.
Additional concerns:
Developer pressures: There are indications this motion may prioritize private financial needs over community priorities. Cultural infrastructure cannot serve as a bailout.
Lack of evidence and transparency: Feasibility studies, consultation summaries, governance plans, and financial documentation have not been publicly shared. Decisions should not be made without this data.
Youth and community voices underrepresented: Past consultations have insufficiently captured the perspectives of younger generations and grassroots groups.
Site selection: The proposed location does not reflect where Filipino families live, work, or gather. Accessibility and community benefit must guide placement.
What we mean by accountability and transparency:
Accountability: Decision-makers must answer for how and why they make choices, including sharing data, studies, and consultation results, and explaining how these inform their decisions.
Transparency: All information that guides decisions should be publicly accessible and understandable, including project costs, governance plans, and potential conflicts of interest. These are not abstract ideals—they are practical tools that allow the community to see, question, and meaningfully participate.
We ask Council to:
Delay voting on this motion until the City’s Integrity Commissioner provides a formal opinion on potential conflicts of interest and proper process.
Release all supporting studies, consultation summaries, and documentation for public review.
Ensure all Filipino community stakeholders are included in planning, not just a single organization, so that the cultural centre reflects the needs and voices of the full community.
The Filipino community deserves a cultural centre built on evidence, transparency, and genuine community leadership, not political optics or private financial expediency.
Sign and share if you believe the process must prioritize the community over developer convenience.
