A commentary by a Sooke resident and business owner.
In response to the recent article about Sooke proposing an 11% property tax hike, I am a Sooke resident who is quite concerned about the lack of investment in economic development.
The Sooke five-year financial plan outlines $10,000 in economic development under discretionary expenses and an economic development officer whose key function is to “stimulate local economic activity through continued implementation of the Community Economic Development Strategy.”
I have no doubt that the economic development officer is working to develop business opportunities in Sooke with the budget that is allocated, but she is one person. Without a budget attached, it’s only worth the paper it’s printed on.
What I’m more concerned about is the lack of investment in economic development in a community that is growing faster than we have housing and jobs.
Last fall, I quit my government job in Victoria partly because I could not justify spending an hour or more in my car each way. During this commute, I would often stop at grocery stores and gas stations along my way home — not in Sooke.
The recent provincial announcement of the infrastructure grant for the Little River multi-use trail was welcome news but does little to solve the increasing road blockages and emissions.
Imagine if the province invested that money in our business community where local jobs are created and expanded. Tourism businesses are still recovering from the pandemic – $500,000 would go a long way to boost these existing businesses and provide start-up money for very much needed new visitor experiences in Sooke.
Geographically, we are distanced enough from Victoria to be a destination, particularly if there is an alignment with Shirley, T-Sou-ke Nation, Pacheedaht Nation, Jordan River, Port Renfrew and beyond.
There must be alternative, sustainable transportation to and from the west coast of the Island not only for tourism, but in the case of reducing emissions and congestion, and with the increasing chance of shutdown due to climate disasters.
There are no quick answers to solving the out-of-control Highway 14 congestion, but, with imagination, there are immediate initiatives that would help solve the snarls on the road and keep people in Sooke.
We need a satellite campus for post-secondary students so they can live at home.
A business hub and commercial office building where workers could telecommute from and access office resources, tax incentives for businesses to relocate to Sooke, a more robust tourism strategy, and partnerships with local First Nations must be priorities for our elected officials to develop jobs and reduce the painful traffic and emissions on the highway.
Last summer’s fire that shut the highway near Port Alberni was a stark reminder that if a highway is closed for any real length of time, goods are not getting through. Many commuters are single passengers. The park and ride lots are rarely full.
There must be a consideration for carpool incentives and a ferry — at minimum, an electric passenger ferry to Songhees/Seaspan and downtown, and for improved and reliable express transit.
Last week, there was another pileup and the highway was closed at rush hour. Fortunately, everyone was OK but traffic was backed up for hours.
Emergency responders are often dispatched to the highway fender-benders during commuting times, meaning they are not available for in-town calls. Mayor Maja Tait is right that they are overstretched, but not always for Sooke citizens.
As a property and home business owner, I would be more supportive of the proposed 10.53 per cent tax increase if there was a concerted effort to also increase opportunities for our young people to study, work and start businesses in Sooke.
Multi-unit housing developments are being prioritized in Sooke, and rightly so, but with these developments must come investments in our growing community for economic development. If developers want to build in Sooke, they should have to contribute to an economic development budget so the economic development officer can actually implement the ambitious development strategy and build our community to keep our people at home.
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