One year ago, on March 11, 2024, District of Sooke mayor and council passed a motion to postpone deciding whether or not to renew the district's paid membership with the Urban Development Institute (UDI), a registered lobbying group on the BC Lobbyists registry that advances the development/real estate interests of its paying corporate member companies. The issue arose that elected officials had not voted for the municipality to join the UDI as a paying member in the first place, and after a number of years of membership, many of the elected officials were uncertain what the UDI's function was. Over a year has passed since that council meeting. On April 28, 2025, the UDI will finally be making a presentation to council.
Through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, a member of the public obtained a receipt showing that the district's UDI membership was renewed by staff on July 3, 2024. This was despite the fact that council had less than four months previously, passed a motion to postpone the decision on whether or not to discontinue the district’s membership until council received a presentation from the Urban Development Institute. The UDI had not made their presentation, nor had council made a decision whether or not to renew the membership. The total cost of the membership fee for the lobby group is $787.50.
Information from another FOI revealed that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs was in accord with the UDI's agenda through its Development Approval Process Review program when it proposed intervening in local government zoning, something that appears to have led to Bill 44. Bill 44 has provoked controversy in Sooke over the great strains it puts on an already overburdened infrastructure.
It is important that the public attend the April 28 meeting of Sooke council and voice their views on the membership.
Ellen Lewers
Sooke
