To say I am disappointed and dismayed with the commentary in the recent Times Colonist article is an understatement (“Battling a behemoth from within,” July 6). The kind of behaviour being exhibited by some elected directors of the Capital Regional District must really make the public concerned.
Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt’s accusation of “conflict of office” is a totally spurious and vexatious allegation, which denies the way in which our municipal and regional governments are set up to operate. It frustrates our attempts to work constructively for our citizens.
For Isitt to find any fault in the way that Esquimalt went through its required zoning process, hearing from more than 400 citizens, which concluded with council voting unanimously against the zoning of McLoughlin Point, is to challenge the legislation and public processes on which all local government is based.
The McLoughlin Point rezoning decision in Esquimalt was made by seven duly elected people, of which I was only one. Isitt is one of four from Victoria who make decisions both for Victoria and at the regional district. Indeed, he was elected by the Victoria citizens to play that exact role. Saanich has five CRD representatives, who play decision-making roles at both levels of government.
To deny the ability of any CRD director or alternate to operate in both worlds is absurd.
As mayor of Esquimalt, as a CRD board director and as a sewage committee member, I fully appreciate that we have a significant task ahead of us. While the regional board structure might be problematic at times, it does not exclude municipal representatives working together collaboratively.
With the clear direction that has come from the province, I hope that all my CRD colleagues will focus on moving forward in a collaborative and constructive manner — one that listens to and respects all of the member municipalities, their representatives and their interests.
The environment minister’s letters to the CRD remind us that it is “the regional district’s responsibility to ensure that all activities … are carried out with regard to the rights of third parties and comply with other applicable legislation that may be in force.”
The Local Government Act clearly places zoning powers exclusively in the hands of the member municipalities.
As mayor of Esquimalt, and consistent within the direction articulated by the minister of environment, I am already working respectfully and as an equal partner with concerned mayors and First Nations, searching for constructive, innovative and cost-effective options for sewage treatment in our region. The “plan-that-was” ran aground on the rock of public opinion, and we need to find a new way. In this, Victoria is also exploring constructive alternative solutions, and I trust that Saanich and Oak Bay will soon follow suit.
The minister’s latest letter also reminds us of the federal 2020 deadline, and clearly lays out the achievable steps we can take to develop alternative proposals with “a new site or option.”
At the same time, we are reassured that senior-government funding remains in place to achieve the best plan for our citizens.
There must be a new, constructive and respectful approach from the regional district to fulfil the goal of sewage treatment within the time-frame set out for us. This means that the CRD majority can no longer take a high-handed approach with any of the municipalities — Esquimalt or any other.
Instead, all directors should decide that it’s time for them to roll up their sleeves and work like the rest of the regional districts in the province to meet the requirements and timelines that we face.
Barb Desjardins is the mayor of Esquimalt.
