Saanich Coun. Colin Plant has been elected to serve his fourth and final one-year term as chair of the Capital Regional District.
Plant told the CRD board Wednesday he will continue to focus on priorities surrounding climate change, solid and liquid waste, regional transportation and reconciliation with First Nations.
“Our commitment to climate action is one we cannot stop advancing. Our future depends on it,” he said.
“Our country’s need to have truth and reconciliation with First Nations should resonate in this room,” he added. “I believe we are on the right path and need to continue to develop relationships with the First Nations in the region that are based on mutual respect and mutual advancement. This is an endeavour we must all support.”
He said the CRD will also begin to look at next steps for solid and liquid waste, saying “waste as a resource and not something to just bury.”
Saanich Coun. Rebecca Mersereau was re-elected as the CRD vice-chair.
Langford Coun. Denise Blackwell has been re-elected as Capital Regional Hospital District chair, with Mersereau elected as acting chair.
The Capital Regional Hospital District partners with Island Health and community stakeholder agencies to develop and improve healthcare facilities in the region and provide capital funding for infrastructure such as acute care, residential care and hospital equipment.
Victoria Coun. Jeremy Loveday has been elected as the Capital Regional Housing District chair for the first time and View Royal Mayor David Screech was re-elected as vice-chair.
The CRD is the largest social housing provider in the region, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the CRD, developing and managing affordable housing.
Since 2019, the CRD has added more than 700 new affordable housing units and will work toward adding another 1,500 units with a goal of more than 3,500 units by 2025.
