Saanich’s People, Pets and Parks program is a full-frontal attack on pets and their owner families in Saanich parks – specifically dogs and dog families.
With this new policy, Saanich once again bares its teeth and shows its disdain toward its constituents, favoring individual landowners and tiny special interest groups over the general population. Saanich has become so invested in the demands of these tiny groups they are willing to spend millions in taxpayer money to demonstrate loyalty.
Staff was directed to run a sham process to achieve a prescribed outcome, dressed up as a sudden interest in parks preservation and renewal (if you are thinking to yourself this renewal will never happen – trust your inner voice). Saanich has historically shown precious little regard for the health of its parks and local wildlife, and has willfully enabled development to the detriment of natural spaces across its jurisdiction.
Strapping dogs to their owners does nothing to achieve the false goals Saanich claims. On the other hand, it is inhumane and downright cruel to both dogs and their owners. At a time when we need our civic leaders to sow unity and a sense of community, Saanich has chosen to foment social divisions. Typical. This is not how a government working for its people operates.
Saanich’s mayor and councillors should be deeply ashamed of their actions. It’s sad that the province has not adopted municipal recall legislation. If it had, ridding ourselves of this lot of dog-and-people-hating council would be a walk in the park.
D. Craig
Saanich
