Good morning, Westshore!
Last week five people resigned from the Island Corridor Foundation's 12-person board. They were five of six First Nations representatives on the board, and said they resigned in part because the scope of the foundation is too narrow considering the value of the corridor land.
We have a story coming next week that explores their ideas, but I want to hear from you too. What do you think should be done with the corridor? Catch up on the current situation, and read our past analysis, and share your thoughts with me here.
Reporter The Westshore
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TAX SPENDING
Budget surplus leads to grant windfall for municipalities
A view of Langford Lake with development beyond. (James MacDonald/Capital Daily)
Surplus funds in the provincial budget means extra money for municipalities. In a one-time fund called the Growing Communities Fund, the government is allocating $1 billion to local governments across the province based on a combination of population and growth rate.
Langford benefits from both factors, and will receive $16.4 million, the most of any Island community. It's a hefty chunk for a city that spends roughly $60 million a year. Colwood will get $6.6 million, Sooke $5.9 million, View Royal $4.6 million, Metchosin $2.4 million, and Highlands $1.6 million.
Parameters for spending the money are broad, ranging from community amenities to affordable housing to water infrastructure. Governments will need to report to the province on how the money was spent, but decision making power is largely up to local leaders.
Where do you want your government to spend the money?
Use the extra comment box to indicate what municipality you're in
- 💦 Utilities like sewers or water treatment
- 🏘 Affordable housing subsidies
- 🛹 Recreation facilities
- 🚧 Road works upgrades
- 🚴🏼 Bike lanes or active transportation routes
- 🙋🏻 ♂️ Something else
SOOKE
How much money should go to climate action?
Sooke has set an ambitious climate target of cutting emissions in half by 2030, from a 2018 base level, and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. It has seven years to reach the first target, and so far Sooke hasn’t designated someone whose job it is to lead the charge.
In 2021 Sooke used grant funding to hire a short term climate action coordinator. They put together a plan, and a told council what it’s going to take to reach its climate targets—“A full sprint,” she told The Westshore at the time. Council approved her draft action plan it in principle, meaning it liked the direction but didn't make any firm commitment to following it.
By then it was mid 2022, and council was preoccupied with the Official Community Plan. Then its meetings were reduced for summer, and by the time the fall came around, election season and big decisions were delayed for the next council. Even with only one new councillor elected, the election process put a long pause on work in process.
Now as the 2023 budget is being prepared, council is looking again at hiring a full time climate coordinator, as was recommended by the climate action committee and in the draft action plan.
“As we've seen with the last four or five years, not having someone champion that cause and motivate the people in the community has been a disservice to us.” Coun. Megan McMath said in a recent council meeting, as she advocating for including a coordinator in the budget. But there is still division among councillors as to whether a climate action coordinator will be money well spent.
Long before that draft plan was submitted, the climate action committee—a group of citizen volunteers with one council representative—calculated what it would take to halve emissions. One option is if roughly 200 Sookies switched to electric vehicles, and another 200 switched from natural gas to renewable power at home. And then the next year another 200 people, and then another 200, and so on until 2030.
It’s not that all of Sooke’s emission reductions will come from individuals who can afford to buy electric cars, but it’s a helpful measurement to point to. “This is the number of people we need to be on board.” After all, Sooke’s policies can only go so far if the community isn’t also prepared to make changes.
Two of the major emission contributors in Sooke are commuting and construction.
Just less than half (about 45%) of the Sooke commuters work outside of Sooke, and drive to get there. The district is looking at a combination of improved bus service, remote work options, and encouraging more economy in Sooke to cut down on these long, gas-emitting trips.
Construction is also difficult for a municipality to target, partly because building codes are established at a provincial level, though there are some municipal options including mandating a ratio of open space, and specifying energy efficiency requirements.
Around the 'Shore
🚦 Langford crossing guards raise alarm after cars ignore signals: the Sooke School District reported three near misses at PEXSISEN Elementary recently, and is now trying to raise awareness that drivers must take caution at crosswalks, and follow crossing guard direction. RCMP will have a visible presence at the crosswalk to help enforce traffic safety. [CTV]
💵 **Colwood puts $30K into Greater Victoria rent bank:**the funds are available for people at risk of homelessness as an interest-free loan of up to $3,000. Last year about 13 people in Colwood used the resource, out of a total of 258 recipients. Colwood wants to advertise the rent bank so more people know it’s available. [Vic News]
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🛑 Langford Parkway will have single lane alternating traffic to the end of the month while a BC Hydro pole is moved. The relocation will make room for more seating at Starlight Stadium.
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TOGETHER WITH COASTAL SHORES WINDOW CLEANING
Coastal Shores Window Cleaning can help!
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Spring is just around the corner and Coastal Shores are ready to help you with your yearly maintenance plan!
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Give them a call and see for yourself why they are Victoria’s new premium exterior cleaning choice!
Community Events
🤝 **Te’mexw Treaty negotiations are nearing completion:**An open house in Metchosin is scheduled for the public to learn about the proposed terms. Five nations are part of the Te’mexw Treaty: Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW), Malahat, Snaw-Naw-As, Songhees, and T’Sou-ke. Negotiations have been going on since 1994 when the Te’mexw Treaty Association was formed. March 15, 4:30-7pm, Metchosin Community Hall, 4401 William Head Rd.
☕️****Council and Coffee: join Sooke’s elected leaders for coffee and tell them what you really think!****“Council meetings are quite structured, so we hope this will be a refreshing opportunity for residents to connect with their elected officials in a more casual setting,” said Mayor Maja Tait. The next monthly coffee chat will be on Monday, March 20, 10-11:30am at Broomhill Playground.
🗑 **Annual Whiffin Spit beach cleanup with Surfriders:**The beach is a hotspot for styrofoam, so every year Surfriders Foundation organizes a beach cleanup. Bring gloves and a bucket. March 12, 11am-1pm.
🤝 Community grants available in Sooke: non-profit organizations that work in Sooke are invited to apply for a grant from the district of up to $7,000. The grants are meant for projects that benefit Sooke residents that would not be able to operate without financial assistance. Read the details and submit applications here; the deadline to apply is March 15.
💕 Heartfelt: A Sooke Arts Council show is on at the ART Gallery until March 12.The council is accepting submissions to its next show, Equinox, until March 11.
🌎 **CENiC speakers series:**the Colwood environmental group is hosting its annual speakers series over Zoom, five Tuesday evenings in a row starting March 21 with an update on Colwood’s low carbon resiliency plan and planning for climate emergencies, featuring representatives from the city. March 21, 7-8pm.
What’s Offshore?
Esquimalt Lagoon looking towards Washington State, taken on March 8, 2023 (📸 Zoë Ducklow)
⛴ #1 The Pan Hope is a bulk carrier built in 2011 and is sailing under the flag of Panama. It is sailing from 🇨🇦 Port Edward (between Prince Rupert and Kitimat) ➡ 🇨🇦 Vancouver, BC and was scheduled to arrive Feb. 22. It’s been moored here for ten days.
🚢 #2 The Mariloula is a bulk carrier built in 2008 and is sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is sailing from 🇨🇳 Qingdao, China ➡ 🇨🇦 Victoria, BC and was scheduled to arrive on Feb. 11. It’s been moored here for three weeks.
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IN PARTNERSHIP WITH****MP ALISTAIR MACGREGOR
Proudly representing the Cowichan-Malahat-Langford riding since 2015
As your Member of Parliament, Alistair MacGregor understands that life for Canada’s workers should be getting easier; not harder. If you need assistance with federal agencies, contact him.
Westshore Snaps
"The pounding surf this morning delivered strange visitors to the shore at Albert Head Lagoon." — Richard Steward, View Royal.
📸 Snapped a photo you’d like to share? Send it with a caption and don’t forget to add where you live.