Transportation, community-building and the future of the Christie Point redevelopment were all top of mind for View Royal residents who attended the all-candidates meeting Thursday evening.
Close to 100 people attended the event, hosted by the WestShore Chamber of Commerce at Elements Casino, to hear what incumbents Damian Kowalewich, Ron Mattson and John Rogers had to say alongside hopefuls Nathan Daisley, Adam Flint and Gery Lemon.
The six candidates will vie for four positions on council while Mayor David Screech will be acclaimed having faced no opponents.
Questions submitted by the public challenged the candidates on their community involvement, opinions on the E & N rail corridor, how they would maintain the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 low tax rates and their stance on the therapeutic recovery community coming to the former site of Choices Transitional Home.
RELATED: Our Place applies for rezoning of the former Choices site in View Royal
Council hopeful Daisley called the centre, run by Our Place Society, a B次元官网网址済ame changerB次元官网网址� and a move that addresses the root issues of homelessness and addiction in Greater Victoria.
On the redevelopment at Christie Point, which he characterized as B次元官网网址渞enovicting families from our community,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been looking for ways to push back on this project.B次元官网网址�
The $200 million development would demolish 161 apartments to make way for 473 new until in four, six-storey buildings on the 16-acre property that has potential to affect salmon spawning in the adjacent waters.
| Incumbent View Royal councillor Ron Mattson answers a question during the all-candidates meeting Thursday at Elements Casino, as fellow candidate Gery Lemon looks on. (Kristyn Anthony/B次元官网网址 Staff) |
On the topic of amalgamation, Coun. Kowalewich stressed there are issues B次元官网网址� transportation, policing B次元官网网址� that could benefit from a regional approach.
B次元官网网址淲e need to start looking way further down the road,B次元官网网址� he said, in reference to rapid transit for an increasing population. B次元官网网址淪ooke and Langford are booming and theyB次元官网网址檙e not stopping.B次元官网网址�
RELATED: Redevelopment of Christie Point delayed
Affordable housing and rental properties are at an all-time low in View Royal, said Flint, so a B次元官网网址渟martB次元官网网址� approach to development is key. Building in areas close to transit arteries and amenities, he said, will leave smaller, quiet neighbourhoods in tact.
Coun. Ron Mattson, a 23-year veteran of council said maintaining a low tax rate for the community is something he has worked hard on, as evidenced by View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 safe streets, low crime responsive police and great fire department.
There is much to be admired about View Royal, he said, noting there are also a lot of problems left to fix.
RELATED: HandyDART proposal in View Royal met with pushback
Gery Lemon, the sole female candidate who has made View Royal her home for 26 years pledged to take an environmental lens to all issues that come before council. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 vote for me because IB次元官网网址檓 a woman,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淰ote for me because IB次元官网网址檓 the right woman.B次元官网网址�
Before Mayor David Screech concluded the evening thanking B次元官网网址渟ix great candidatesB次元官网网址� for answering difficult questions so well, Coun. Rogers B次元官网网址� who stressed he his not a fan of bus lanes on Island Highway B次元官网网址� urged those in the audience who left with more questions to contact him.
B次元官网网址淚 do the research, listen and ask questions,B次元官网网址� he said.
The B.C. municipal election is Oct. 20.
