People who live in the more remote areas of the capital region would like to have water piped to their homes, but their voices have been silenced. Thanks to provincial legislation that must be fixed, Mike Hicks, the Capital Regional District director for the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area, has so far been shut out of decision-making on a question that is important to the people he represents.
The district has been struggling to update its growth strategy, which covers such things as land use, ecosystem preservation, transportation, economic potential and measures to contain urban sprawl. The strategy is important because it affects the quality of life in the region and the character of its 13 municipalities.
When it comes to the strategy, many of the 13 are stubbornly opposed. Seven have refused to endorse the draft document.
That should come as no surprise to residents of Greater Victoria, who are used to their councils marching in different directions. Water service is far from the only issue behind the rejections, but it’s probably the biggest.
To deal with the current impasse, the family is required to go through non-binding mediation. If that doesn’t work, it then goes to binding arbitration.
The mediation is between the CRD on one side and the seven municipalities on the other.
The rules about that process have left the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area without a seat at the table. 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.
While the seven municipalities (and any of the other six who want to) have a voice at mediation, the rules set up by the previous provincial government do not recognize electoral areas such as Juan de Fuca. Instead, they have to be represented by the CRD’s delegates.
As Hicks is a member of the board, it would make sense to choose him as one of the CRD’s representatives, so Juan de Fuca could put its case effectively. Instead, the board picked Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen and Victoria Coun. Ben Isitt to argue on its behalf.
While that leaves Juan de Fuca largely voiceless, it’s not as sinister as it seems. Jensen and Isitt have to argue on behalf of the CRD as a whole. Putting Juan de Fuca’s position is not their only job.
Hicks, however, points out that Isitt is far from the best person to argue for Hicks’s constituents. In fact, he likens it to letting the fox argue for 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 says the board was well aware of his position when it chose him.
The question of who gets piped water is a crucial one as the region figures out how and where to grow. While sewers are probably a greater determinant of growth, water is one that people think about more often, and it has to be a major consideration for planners and politicians.
Hicks argues that, in almost every case, the water would go to areas already designated for growth in official community plans. He says it wouldn’t lead to urban sprawl.
That’s a debate the region must have, but it can’t be a fair one unless all voices are heard. The mediator has been asked to let Hicks speak, and we hope that happens.
But the province must fix the legislation so electoral-area residents are no longer second-class citizens.
