The City of Langford may be walking a fine line in support of a new regional economic strategy and committee for South Vancouver Island.
The City has already approved a motion to support the project in principal, but only if everyone else is in, said Coun. Denise Blackwell. B次元官网网址淎t this point weB次元官网网址檙e not going to change that until we see who else is in.B次元官网网址�
She voiced some concerns regarding the future economic development committee (EDC) at MondayB次元官网网址檚 council meeting.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see the make-up of the actual board, because IB次元官网网址檓 finding down at the regional board thereB次元官网网址檚 all sorts of ideas that arenB次元官网网址檛 anywhere near what we want, what we set out in our strategic plan,B次元官网网址� she said at the meeting.
If the makeup of the board doesnB次元官网网址檛 favour business, she said, the board wonB次元官网网址檛 be doing work for economic development in the region, theyB次元官网网址檒l only be doing work for the City of Victoria.
It was a fear echoed by Mayor Stew Young, who drove most of the discussion on the topic.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to be very careful,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧oliticians downtown keep coming up with all of these ways to spend money B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 not an endless pit of money from residential taxpayers.B次元官网网址�
Young added, however, that he supported the idea and has since it was first put forward.
B次元官网网址淭his is good. A regional EDC makes sense, as long as the business people are heard and politicians actually listen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he makeup has to be B次元官网网址� business telling the government how to do things better. Governments are the worst offenders of creating bureaucracy and red tape (for business).B次元官网网址�
Young noted that itB次元官网网址檚 important for business people to be in charge of the EDC, so B次元官网网址渨hen governments do something stupid, they actually should be held to task for it, and thatB次元官网网址檚 part of the EDC.B次元官网网址�
The financial portion of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 commitment to a regional strategy will be reviewed during 2016 budget deliberations, to be voted on by council before April 15, 2016.
Langford chief administrative officer Jim Bowden said this B次元官网网址渨ill allow us the time to ensure that the proper (board) makeup is in place.B次元官网网址�
At their Monday meeting, Highlands council unanimously approved the districtB次元官网网址檚 participation in the South Vancouver Island Economic Development Association. That support also included a financial commitment.
Esquimalt, Central Saanich and Saanich also voted to support the Association at their Monday council meetings, bringing the total number of municipalities supporting the idea, at least in principle, to 10. The others are Colwood, View Royal, Victoria, Oak Bay and Sidney.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com
