Re: “Unsettled regional sewage plan has Victoria exploring options,” June 7.
The basic problem regarding sewage disposal in the Capital Regional District is the federal regulation (and provincial support of it) that is not rationally based on scientific evidence.
If I were a local elected politician, I would simply say to the senior governments that if they want to spend taxpayers’ money so wastefully, they should take over the project and thus focus the responsibility for the tax burden on themselves. I would simply use my vote to refuse to participate.
It is said that if the CRD does not comply with the regulation, it would lose the federal and provincial contributions to implement the project and local governments and councillors would be subject to fines. If I were a councillor, I would simply run the risk and leave the political fallout on the senior government politicians.
Would the current federal and provincial elected officials (or future ones, given the long timelines) really have the political courage to fine local officials for refusing to spend almost a billion dollars on such a needless scheme? The legislative requirements for the senior governments to manage the local projects or impose local taxes are formidable, but at least it would have the benefit of having the debate focused properly on the federal and provincial politicians.
The most sensible first steps would be for local politicians to seek an extension of the project deadline and to declare their firm intention not to facilitate implementation of the current regulation.
Allan Roger
Highlands
