Efforts by a Saanich councillor to impose a moratorium on the cutting of Garry oaks and other native trees did not win the support of her colleagues.
Council voted 8-1 against Coun. Nathalie ChambersB次元官网网址� motion that asked staff to report back on the implications of a moratorium on cutting down Garry oak trees, with native tree speciesB次元官网网址� included in the assessment.
B次元官网网址淐andidly, the likelihood of imposing a moratorium is low, B次元官网网址� said Coun. Rebecca Mersereau. While she echoed a common sentiment in praising the B次元官网网址渋ntent and spiritB次元官网网址� of ChambersB次元官网网址� motion, she questioned whether such a moratorium would have community support. She also said any work on the moratorium would divert staff resources from current work offering more comprehensive and permanent solutions.
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Staff are currently developing a comprehensive bio-diversity strategy that the previous council asked staff to develop after councillors had rescinded the Environmental Development Permit Area (EDPA) bylaw.
Coun. Judy Brownoff B次元官网网址� echoing earlier points from Coun. Karen Harper B次元官网网址� said Saanich would receive that report before it would receive a report into ChambersB次元官网网址� proposed moratorium.
The public had heard earlier that any staff work into the moratorium would delay the work on the bio-diversity strategy by several months, and impact active and future development permits, as well as any work undertaken by senior spheres of government in Saanich.
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MondayB次元官网网址檚 vote can be read as a defeat for Chambers, who had announced last week that she would ask staff to bring forward the moratorium as well as ask staff to look at options for the B次元官网网址渋mmediate implementationB次元官网网址� of a conservation strategy that would protect the same ecosystems that the EDPA had previously protected.
This agenda re-ignited the conflict between supporters and opponents of the EDPA that had divided the community for several years, and MondayB次元官网网址檚 council meeting likely triggered a case of deja vu for many as council heard many familiar points that opponents and supporters of the EDPA had made in the past.
In the end, the EDPA-related portion of ChambersB次元官网网址� agenda never made it onto the floor for debate after receiving support but also criticism from the public.
Coun. Colin Plant found ChambersB次元官网网址� eventual motion B次元官网网址減roblematicB次元官网网址� but was willing to give her a chance to have her motion heard.
Chambers, for her part, appeared surprised by the public reaction, when she apologized for her B次元官网网址渁bruptB次元官网网址� recommendation that appeared at the start of councilB次元官网网址檚 agenda.
B次元官网网址淏ut I donB次元官网网址檛 regret this recommendation,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淩esidents are demanding that I do something. Residents demand that we do something.B次元官网网址� Citing support from First Nations, Chambers framed her recommendation as part of SaanichB次元官网网址檚 commitment towards reconciliation.
This said, she acknowledged that in hindsight, her proposal should have been been clearer in thanking the public for the feedback, before eventually tabling her failed motion.
After that motion, council approved a motion from her to receive the report by April. B次元官网网址淣ow [residents] know at the end of April a report is coming and the biodiversity strategy will be phased in,B次元官网网址� she said.
