Skip to content

Region must unite for greater good

How can we expect our province to be transparent and efficient, when we are failing in our own municipalities.

Another reason for residents to demand regional amalgamation — how can we expect our province to be transparent and efficient, when we are failing in our own municipalities.

Not only is the overpass issue in Central Saanich a case for amalgamation, but also fire protection, policing, the Blue bridge,  Craigflower bridge,  Colwood  building into the sky, Langford’s 30 per cent growth, View Royal borrowing millions (in anticipation of future revenue) to build a fire hall, bridging our gap with First Nations.

And the “borrowing in anticipation,” isn’t that like counting your chickens before they hatch? Meanwhile, the region is screaming for sewage and road infrastructure. All 345,000 of us share each other’s boundaries and offerings — what will it take for us to come together and work as a cohesive society? Bailouts?

Maybe  civil disobedience is the only way to wake up 13 municipalities. Can you imagine if all 345,000 people in the region said, “sorry mayors and councillors, you are wasting our money, we are not paying our property taxes this year until you implement a plan that will streamline this region.”

Then we can, as a united region, put pressure on the province for further requirements. Maybe this year I will be disobedient and send my property tax dollars to the View Royal elementary where my child’s teacher is struggling for resources.

View Royal municipality is a prime example of a fiefdom wasting resources on useless projects. One example being:   the decommissioning of illegal suites. Why would anyone want to force homeowners to rip out wiring and plumbing and force people to make areas of their homes unliveable? Shouldn’t we be championing affordable housing these days?

Good thing I’m an optimist. Even at the height of this regional doom and gloom I believe we have the talent, but do our mayors and councillors have the wherewithal? If they don’t, their egos are in the way.

Sherry Baird

View Royal