The Strathcona Regional District Board received a lot of bad press last week, thanks to the actions of three rural directors. The headline in the Campbell River Mirror states, “Cortes Island affordable housing project hangs by a thread after SRD defers hearing.” This sentiment was shared by Canada’s National Observer, which quoted the disapproval voiced by Chair Michele Babchuk and Campbell River Director Claire Moglove. Quadra Island’s Bird’s Eye (June 3) was more diplomatic, but pointed out two major Quadra projects (a BC Ferries berth and the new Quadra Island Firehall) have been delayed by more than three months because of the director’s decision to ignore a provincial order, the advise of SRD staff and comments made by other SRD directors. The most detailed account of this meeting is in Cortes Currents. As Cortes Island Regional Director Noba Anderson observed, “there have been four newspaper articles on this, which is pretty rare and outstanding.” If any of the three directors had second thoughts, their opportunity to reopen the topic came at the June 10, 2020, SRD Board meeting. Instead, the decision to not hold public hearings for rural areas stands.
Campbell River Outdoor Information Booth
This is in stark contrast to the city of Campbell River’s decision to host an outdoor information booth, to inform the public about construction on Highway 19A, on June 17 and 23.
“This is a great example of our City team adapting to current conditions and continuing to provide timely, accurate information to residents,” said Mayor Andy Adams. “This pop-up information booth will offer an opportunity to find out more and ask questions in-person about this important upgrade project.”
Decision To Shut Down Rural Hearings
At the May 27th board meeting, Regional Directors Jim Abram, Brenda Leigh and Gerald Whalley voted to shut down public hearings in rural areas until sometime after September 7th.
As this is a rural matter, only the four members of the Electoral Areas Services Committee could vote.
Rainbow Ridge Cannot Apply For Funding
This means that the Cortes Island Seniors Society’s Rainbow Ridge project will not be eligible to apply for “a $2 million capital grant and an annual operating subsidy of approximately $150,000-$175,000 towards affordable rental housing.”
“There is no guarantee when, or if, another round of funding will occur. We appreciate that a final decision on this important land use application is still forthcoming, but want to emphasize the time sensitive nature of our request. Provincial investment is vital to our undertaking,” a Seniors Society spokesperson wrote the SRD.
At the May 27th meeting, Director Anderson invited her colleagues to attend electronically.
Mayor Adams said he saw no problem holding the public hearing for Rainbow Ridge electronically.
“We can’t just put the democratic process on hold when there is a safe and absolutely useful way to conduct public hearings,” added Director Moglove.
Though SRD staff said there was no need for them to do so, Directors Abram and Leigh insisted they must attend the meeting in person.
“I too am going to exercise my right to say how disappointed I am with this. I think we have done our constituents over on Cortes a disservice,” observed Chair Michele Babchuk.
Opportunity To Reopen Discussion
The SRD gives directors an opportunity to reopen the discussion, following a vote, at the next board meeting.
Directors Leigh and Whalley were both at the June 10 board meeting. Abram is in the hospital, recovering from surgery, but his Alternate Director was present.
Director Anderson informed the board, “ … I’ve had a lot of communications from my constituents and the media, with regards to the Regional District’s decision to delay all public hearings until the Fall. Specifically, with regard to the Cortes Senior’s application … The kinds of comments I’ve been getting: kids are in school, restaurants have been reopening …”
She added, “This is a moment for reconsideration, if any of my rural colleagues wanted to so move.”
There was no response.
Director Leigh took the opportunity to inform the board that the Department of Fisheries had not yet responded to a request, from her area, made during May.
“We’re having really big problems due to COVID. The offices were not manned at Fisheries and we were calling people on their cell phones and things. I had to track people down to do the work.”
Top photo credit: Screenshot from video of June 10, 2020 SRD Board meeting. Clockwise from upper left: Chair Michele Babchuk; Chief Administrative Officer David Leitch; Director Claire Moglove; Director Brenda Leigh.