Summary of All Candidates Meeting

As documented by Barb McLintock during the meeting

For those who could not make it out to the November 3, 2011 All-Candidates Meeting for the Saanich civic elections on November 19, here is a summary of the candidates’ statements and views as expressed at the meeting, created by volunteer note-taker Barb McLintock.

Please note this is not totally comprehensive as it’s just not possible to summarize 90 minutes of discussion in 1,500 words or so!  If you’re interested in more detail, the entire meeting was live-streamed by Camosun College Students Society volunteers with the support of College staff and can be viewed here.

The meeting was jointly sponsored by the Camosun College Students Society, the Camosun Community Association, the Mt. Tolmie Community Association and the Quadra/Cedar Hill Community Association, and took place on the Lansdowne Campus of Camosun College on the evening of November 3. The moderator was Alan Perry from SHAW TV and C-FAX 1070 Radio.

The first 90 minutes of the evening were devoted to Mayoralty candidates Frank Leonard and David Cubberley. Although the candidates showed a remarkable level of agreement in their answers, some differences in emphasis did emerge

Key points made in their INTRODUCTIONS were:

CUBBERLEY: Key message is “it’s time for a change.” Transportation is a key issue in his campaign with concerns about congestion, speeders cutting through neighbourhoods, and a shortage of suitable amenities for pedestrians and cyclists. He also wishes to focus on safety in the community, especially for the young and the elderly, and a more sustainable farm economy.

LEONARD: States the three key words in his goals are “sustainable, healthy, and vibrant.” He stressed the need to keep the sense of community and of the smaller neighbourhoods in Saanich, something he thinks has been done well by the current administration. He noted that Saanich is now 10 years into a 20 year planned program of improving and restoring essential infrastructure. One of his proudest achievements is the Campus of Care with various housing options now going up on the old Mount View school site on Carey Road.

Looking at issues of SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE:

Both candidates agreed that improving infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians must be a high priority, with one emphasis being the need for sidewalks along many Saanich streets. Cubberley noted that with the ageing population, more and more people will be using motorized scooters, and the infrastructure should also be in place to support them. Both agreed this should, as far as possible, not be done on a piecemeal basis; Leonard noted that it was sometimes possible to persuade developers to extend sidewalks beyond the boundaries of their own properties while property is still at the development stage.

Both mayoralty candidates supported curbside collection of compostable material as part of the recycling program.

Neither candidate thought that moving either the public works yard or the Nellie McClung branch of the public library needed to be a high priority for council.

On the issues surrounding TRANSPORTATION:

Both candidates were committed to working toward a light-rail transit (LRT) system using the Douglas Street corridor. Leonard stressed the need to get a good business case prepared for this, while Cubberley promised to work to ensure senior levels of government paid a high proportion of the costs. Both agreed that a mechanism must be in place for some of the costs to be paid by those who benefit from the gain in density that will inevitably occur near the line. That density gain, they said, would be what would make Greater Victoria a large enough entity for light rail to be a viable option. Leonard noted that the problems in the business plan with suitable nodules of density would probably be greater at the West Shore end than at the downtown end.

A resident noted Richmond Road as a particular problem because it feeds many people each day to the Camosun campus. Leonard noted that Richmond was part of the ongoing Shelbourne Valley study and the public would have a great deal of say over this. Cubberley did agree that such a major road should be given priority in planning for upgrades for pedestrians and/or cyclists.

Both favoured the expansion of transit service to Camosun and the University of Victoria so that passengers are not frequently left behind while full buses go by. Leonard noted that one possibility might be to use articulated buses, rather than double-deckers, because double-deckers can appear full when there is still room on top. However, Cubberley noted that articulated buses also bring with them some disadvantages, including that they tend to provide a rough ride at the back and seniors are wary of using them. He suggested a way should be found to give transit an advantage over private cars on major roads like McKenzie.

Both agreed the governance of transit in the region should be turned over to the Capital Regional District board.

On issues of HOUSING:

Asked about providing more affordable housing, such as for college and university students, both noted the possibility of extending the area in which secondary suites are legal and the need to work with senior levels of government to provide more rental housing. Leonard noted that Saanich has a history of welcoming projects run by non-profit societies, such as Pacifica or CRD Housing, and also noted the possibility of providing “flex suites” in new housing development.

Both agreed that multi-unit housing should be allowed only as permitted in Local Area Plans, not piecemeal, to preserve the quality of neighbourhoods.

On the FUTURE OF PANAMA FLATS:

Cubberley said the first job was to get the fill out of the flats, then develop an integrated storm water management plan for the area, then look at potential uses of the land, probably agricultural and recreational. He criticized Leonard and the outgoing council for having taken the issue to court to end up with a result that he stated was predictable and could have been reached much more easily without the costs and time of a court case. Leonard said the outcome was what the municipality wanted and they had used the best methods to reach that end. He said that now the land has been acquired, a master plan will need to be developed with much community input. He hopes it will be possible even to return land to the Agricultural Land Reserve.

On the issue of SEWAGE TREATMENT:

Both said they would proceed with treatment even if it were not mandated by the provincial and federal government. However, they also agreed there is still much work to do in determining the best methods to use and in ensuring funding from senior levels of government is available.

Asked which should take preference – sewage treatment or LRT – Leonard stated it shouldn’t be an either/or proposition, and it should be possible to stagger building times so the resident doesn’t get hit with the whole burden at once. Cubberley said that also thrown into the mix should be other large projects, such as the new Royal Jubilee Hospital tower which cost $115 million and which, he argued, should not have been paid for out of property taxes at all.

ON OTHER ISSUES:

Both agreed that financial prudence was required in these difficult economic times.

Both were strongly opposed to amalgamation, either of the whole municipality or of police services, and both said they would energetically resist any attempt by the provincial government to force any amalgamation on Saanich. Cubberley noted that police amalgamation would lead to higher taxes for less service, so would be a great disservice to Saanich residents.

Both agreed that expansion of the community or allotment garden program is a good idea to improve food security, perhaps using some of Panama Flats.

Both stressed that one of the things they liked about Saanich was its “bottom-up” style of government where great attention is paid to citizens’ views, and would maintain and expand upon this.

This idea was generally viewed favourably, but Wolf, Sanders and Derman all thought there should be an opt-out provision for those who do their own composting. They should not have to pay taxes for others to get their waste composted.

Six said no, council should be able to make that decision on its own without going back to the voters. They were: Brownoff, Derman, Sanders, Wickson, Wolf and Murdock.

Five said no, they did not believe science yet showed that such an expensive project was necessary. They were: Ip, McClinton, Derman, Wergeland, and Wolf.