Three years may seem like a long time until the next provincial election, but if we want real change, the hard work must begin now. British Columbians need to hold this government accountable for policies that undermine democracy and weaken community voices.
Closer to home, Saanich’s mayor and council face their own election in just over a year. Instead of listening to residents, they have surrendered to developer lobbyists and adopted the provincial narrative without question. Bill 44 is being used as the excuse – a law that removes public hearings, imposes one-size-fits-all zoning across municipalities, and strips away meaningful opportunities for community input on growth and development.
The Aragon gravel pit rezoning and development application in Cordova Bay is a perfect example. Despite the scale of this mega-development and its community-altering impacts, residents have been pushed to the sidelines while the developer works hand-in-hand with staff and council. The only councillor who has reached out and meaningfully engaged with our community is Nathalie Chambers. Her leadership stands in sharp contrast to the silence of her colleagues, who have chosen to align with the developer’s narrative instead of their constituents.
The impacts are significant. Schools, roads, sewers, and transit are already stretched thin, yet there are no commitments to upgrade infrastructure to match the density that Bill 44 forces upon communities. That is not planning – it is rubber-stamping.
This is not democracy. The time to speak up is now, before it is too late.
Dan Horth
Cordova Bay
