Deadlines concerning new sewage-treatment facilities for the capital region are fast approaching, and unless rapid progress is made, taxpayers face the risk of paying for the massive project with 100-cent dollars, rather than 33-cent dollars. It would not pay to dangle temptation in front of provincial and federal governments focused on lean budgets.
That said, the Capital Regional District should not resort to fear-mongering in an attempt to bring municipalities and the public into line. The project was stalled because of the CRD’s inability to move the project ahead and its failure to foster an attitude of co-operation.
The federal and provincial governments have ordered the region to build a secondary sewage-treatment plant, rather than dumping filtered sewage into the ocean. For the $788-million project, the federal government has committed $253 million from three sources, each with a different deadline. The majority of the federal funding is contingent on meeting 2019 completion deadlines.
The province has committed $248 million to the project, and the CRD is responsible for the balance.
There is an urgency to find a solution, as CRD chairman Nils Jensen points out, but a new approach must be taken in arriving at that solution. While opposition to the plan was vocal and persistent, the CRD needs to look inward before blaming others.
People complained about a lack of opportunity for public input, and while open houses and information sessions were held, the perception persisted that the CRD was trying to sell a plan, rather than seeking responses and suggestions. When the CRD, without a real plan or consultation, bought land in Esquimalt for the biosolids component of the project, it confirmed in many people’s minds the impression that the district intended to push the plan through, no matter what.
Whether perceptions are accurate or not, they need to be dealt with sensitively and respectfully.
There are limits to public consultation, of course. At some point, the discussion must be closed, all perspectives considered and decisions made. And in the case of the sewage project, the time to accomplish that has become greatly compressed, all the more reason to move quickly to consult and arrive at a consensus for a plan of action.
There are differing views on the federal government’s commitment to the project. Federal officials have said major changes in site or scope would mean grants have to be reviewed, and Jensen is concerned about that.
On the other hand, Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell says Ottawa remains committed to funding sewage treatment, regardless of changes in scope.
The differing views are not as much about support for the project but availability of funds. It took three federal pots of money to come up with the equivalent of one-third of the cost. Sure, Ottawa is probably still committed, but with oil prices down and an election in the offing, letting any of those grant eligibilities expire runs a real risk of losing the money.
The federal government’s commitment needs to be clarified and confirmed so that discussions can be based on fact, not speculation. Direct questions need to be asked; clear answers should be required.
And there is limited time to do that.
So get moving, find consensus, talk to federal and provincial governments about the problem. Attempts to force municipalities to simply fall in line are doomed to fail.
That task is not easy. And there will always be dissatisfied stakeholders. But it’s the job at hand.
The sewage-treatment plant is not likely top of mind for most people in the capital region. They might think about it momentarily, then they flush and forget.
But they will remember when the tax bill arrives, especially if it is massively larger than they expected.
