Another elected councillor, this time from Saanich, is arguing against elected councils. We’ve come to expect this sort of thinking from Victoria, but Saanich as well? Democracy be damned, apparently.
Coun. Nathalie Chambers wants Saanich to declare its support for the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs instead of the councils elected by the Wet’suwet’en people. She wants Saanich council to take sides, not just in the pipeline debate, but also in Wet’suwet’en internal affairs.
She wants Saanich to toss more fuel on the fight that has divided the Wet’suwet’en.
Yes, we know the argument: The elected council system was imposed on the Indigenous peoples of Canada, so the choices made by voters are not valid. So?
Here is breaking news from 1906, when Saanich was created: Saanich’s elected council exists at the whim of the provincial government. And from 1862: Victoria’s elected council was created by the colonial administration. If band councils are not legitimate, neither are municipal ones.
Outsiders with no real knowledge and no vested interest in the outcome are not helpful.
We need strong leadership from people who believe in our country and believe in democracy. We are not getting it from those we elected.
