Port Moody council looks to create centralized online fact hub in response to misinformation claims

In an effort to combat online misinformation, Port Moody is looking to create a centralized “one-stop shop” for facts around emerging community issues.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, council unanimously voted to have staff develop recommendations for a new online information-sharing tool, which is checked and sourced by the city.

In a memo written by Mayor Meghan Lahti, she stated that misinformation has been “flourishing,” and there is no single space for residents to find answers. 

“We are in a challenging time, and many municipalities are experiencing similar issues,” she said. “When we fail to share relevant information in a way that is easily accessible and proactive, we risk creating an environment that is ripe for speculation and misunderstanding.”

Council claims of misinformation spreading over social media have been frequent since the last election, especially regarding development issues. Lahti noted several members asked for the item to be added to the agenda.

In the last council meeting on Feb. 11, a majority of council asserted the amount of public support for a referendum on tower height in the Moody Centre transit oriented area was due to misinformation.

Lahti’s memo stated that information regarding hot-topic community discussion is not easy to come by, and some city information is spread across multiple platforms. 

Something akin to a FAQ on  issues could help properly educate and build relationships with residents, according to Lahti.

She said it was important for the city’s communication and transparency efforts, particularly around community planning, development applications and governance.

“This will likely not stop bad actors from trying to spread misinformation, but it will provide a proactive solution to this problem,” Lahti said.

Coun. Kyla Knowles concurred, stating she’s seen a “huge degradation” of truthful community discourse, adding a single hub for information could ease community divisions.

“It is becoming very frustrating as an elected official,” Knowles said. “How do you even begin to address that kind of stuff?”

However, Coun. Haven Lurbiecki, who introduced the failed referendum, said there have been no tangible examples of misinformation cited by councillors.

While not opposed to setting up a FAQ, she said polarization will not wane until council starts to listen to concerns regarding the pace, scale and height of development. 

“You’re missing the point of what’s going on in our community – that people have legitimate concerns,” Lurbiecki said. ”The division, I believe, is starting at this table, because people are not feeling heard.”

Coun. Samantha Agtarap countered that in order to properly have conversations, everyone needs to be working from the same set of facts.

She added that the city’s website is not easily searchable, and trying to find information can be “a little bit messy.”

“We don’t have to agree,” Agtarap said. “But I think having at least the same starting point will help us . . . get to the root of people’s discomfort or comfort with certain things.”

Coun. Amy Lubik said the city needs to find a better way to display how residents’ feedback was incorporated into development projects to show how council has responded to public concerns.

She said the city’s development framework for Moody Centre, which has been a source of much public contention, is not easily digestible and council should be relaying the rationale behind their planning.

“I understand that folks think 40-storeys for some of the developments is really tall,” Lubik said. “(But) 40 storeys is not arbitrary, and it’s not guaranteed. If an application is not good, we’re going to be sending it back.”

Coun. Diana Dilworth said she wants staff to look at best management practices from other municipalities, and the city should even consider stepping away from social media, or using it in a different way.

She compared misinformation online to the children’s game of telephone, adding that information sharing should be “holistic and robust.”

“There is a diverse spectrum of opinions in our community,” Dilworth said. “Disagreement is not disrespect, and disagreement doesn’t mean we’re not listening.”