For the first time in seven years, the Capital Regional District board will have a new chair.
On Wednesday, Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith was elected board chair for 2025, taking over the role held by Saanich Coun. Colin Plant since 2018.
Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little was re-elected as CRD vice-chair.
McNeil-Smith told the board he intends to carry on what he called the board’s innovative approach to its priorities, citing efforts to establish a regional transportation authority.
This year, the CRD approved establishing a regional transportation service that’s expected to begin operating next year, and will be able to update the regional transportation plan and speak with one voice for the region on transportation matters.
McNeil-Smith said he will also keep the board focused on finding an environmentally responsible and economically feasible solution to managing biosolids — an end product of sewage treatment — with gasification, a project that would be the first of its kind in the province, as well as working on government-to-government relationships with First Nations.
“Of course we have many other important priorities — housing, climate change, solid waste, parks – but transportation, dealing responsibly with biosolids and productive First Nations relationships are far reaching and are transformative in their beneficial impact to the region.”
Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch was re-elected as Capital Regional Hospital District chair, and Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson was elected as acting chair of that board.
Saanich Coun. Zac de Vries was acclaimed as the Capital Region Housing Corporation chair, with Victoria Coun. Jeremy Caradonna acclaimed as vice-chair.
The housing corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the CRD, is the largest social housing provider in the region, and is tasked with developing and managing affordable housing.
De Vries said when he first took on the job of chairing the housing corporation, a target was set for 4,000 housing units. The CRD now has more than 3,000 in various stages of planning, he said.
“Housing is an issue that impacts urban, suburban and rural communities alike and it’s important that we have a housing corporation and associated strategies to address housing needs across the region in the variety of contexts that we have,” he said.
