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CRD director Mike Hicks appeals to premier to intervene in water dispute

Mike Hicks is appealing to Premier John Horgan to intervene in the process that deals with disputes over the Capital Regional District’s growth strategy.
Mike Hicks.jpg
Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Mike Hicks

 

Mike Hicks is appealing to Premier John Horgan to intervene in the process that deals with disputes over the Capital Regional District’s growth strategy. 

Hicks, CRD director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, says residents there are being treated unfairly in a process that could determine whether some have access to drinking water. The area includes the west coast of Vancouver Island from Otter Point to Port Renfrew, and the geographically separate communities of East Sooke, Malahat and Willis Point.

The strategy deals with development within the CRD, including land use, ecosystem preservation, transportation, economic potential and measures to contain urban sprawl. In this case, Hicks notes, the issue is whether to extend piped drinking water to Juan de Fuca residents.

“It has been recently confirmed by senior CRD staff there is the distinct possibility that the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area will be excluded from representing their views to the mediator or arbitrator,” Hicks has written to Horgan, the area’s MLA.

“CRD senior staff have confirmed that the Juan de Fuca will be represented by the CRD and, quite possibly, by directors opposed to the JDF receiving water. The JDF will not be allowed to make a direct submission to the mediator or arbitrator.”

The non-binding mediation is necessary because several municipalities have not endorsed the draft regional growth strategy, a master plan designed to chart the region’s growth. If mediation fails, the next step is binding arbitration.

Because Juan de Fuca is not a municipality, it is to be represented in the mediation/ arbitration processes by the CRD. Hicks was nominated to be one of the CRD’s representatives in that process, but the board of directors instead elected Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen and Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt to argue on its behalf.

Hicks says that not only is it a problem he won’t be heard, but that nominating Isitt is akin to having a fox argue on behalf of the hens. “Director Isitt is a tremendous debater who is extremely passionate and persuasive in forwarding his beliefs. One of his publicly stated views is that the residents of Juan de Fuca should not receive piped water as it might result in urban sprawl,” Hicks says.

Isitt said the CRD board was aware of his position when it elected him as their representative in the dispute resolution process.

Hick’s said that piping in CRD water won’t lead to sprawl. With a few exceptions, it would be piped into areas designated for growth in official community plans.

The CRD board recommended approval of the draft growth update, but unanimous consent is needed for it to be adopted.

As about half the 13 municipal councils in the CRD have voted to reject the update, Hicks does not have much hope that mediation will be successful and worries the issue is headed to binding arbitration without his voice being heard.

“The fix is in as far as I’m concerned. It’s discriminatory to the residents of Juan de Fuca,” Hicks said. “I feel that the Juan de Fuca will not be represented at the arbitration or the mediation fairly. Not even close.”

bcleverley@timescolonist.com