Imagine this scenario: an optimistic entrepreneur determines that there exists an emerging market for products derived from human feces and decides to open a factory.
This venture capitalist pulls open a map of the Greater Victoria region, and chooses Esquimalt as the optimal location to erect his new facility. Clearly, before he would be permitted to open his new business, he would be subject to extensive local government oversight and require local government approval.
It’s doubtful such an enterprise could obtain a business licence to trade in excrement without extensive community consultation. Even if the public supported it (which is highly unlikely), Esquimalt council would no doubt be reluctant to allow such a business to operate in a residential area, given the likely impacts it would have on the surrounding community.
So why is it that a private business wanting to open a feces factory would be subject to extensive public scrutiny, but a public institution can secretly spend $17 million of public money and covertly decide to build a biosolids-treatment plant in the middle of a residential neighbourhood? Isn’t government supposed to be held to a higher standard of accountability than business?
I live a block away from the proposed Viewfield Road biosolids site with my spouse and four-year-old son. My backyard (and my neighbourhood) is very important to me. The CRD’s actions extend beyond NIMBY; this is an issue of democratic accountably.
Tim Sheaff
Esquimalt
