Saanich Coun. Colin Plant has been re-elected as chair of the Capital Regional District board.
Plant had urged the board to keep him in the position, saying he felt it was important to stay the course on strategic goals such as integrated transportation and devising a plan for use of biosolids, the end product of sewage treatment.
“The board must have a definitive plan for biosolids later this year,” he said. “I am committed to seeing this board achieve an outcome that is both environmentally and economically defensible.”
Biosolids have been ending up in the Hartland Landfill in Saanich as a stop-gap measure, but they’re required by the province to have a beneficial use.
In June, the Capital Regional District said it was aiming to have a temporary demonstration plant to show what can be done with the 3,000-plus tonnes of biosolids it produces every year.
In his inaugural address as chair, Plant also touched on one of the board’s other priorities — improved government-to-government relations with First Nations.
“I would like to see the CRD develop memorandums of understanding with willing First Nations and have those vetted and discussed by the CRD board,” he said, noting the intention is to develop a framework that dictates how they will work together.
Metchosin Mayor Marie-Térèse Little was elected as CRD vice-chair, while Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch was re-elected as Capital Regional Hospital District chair, with Sidney Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith re-elected as acting chair.
Saanich Coun. Zac de Vries was re-elected as the Capital Region Housing Corporation chair, with Victoria Coun. Jeremy Caradonna elected as vice-chair.
The largest social housing provider in the region, the CRHC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the CRD, developing and managing affordable housing.
In his first address as chair, de Vries said his top priority will be to get the necessary funding from senior governments to ensure the next CRD housing program succeeds in providing new affordable housing units to the region.
De Vries suggested the Capital Region Housing Corporation can do more internally to maximize its impact in the region, including exploring integrating commercial uses in future affordable-housing projects, both to help subsidize the projects and increase the sustainability and walkability of the neighbourhoods where they are located.
