Langford and Metchosin earned the praises of Beecher Bay Chief Russ Chipps following the finalization of a landmark boundary shift.
B次元官网网址淧别辞辫濒别 say they want to work with First Nations. These two communities actually 诲辞,B次元官网网址� Chipps said following an announcement at the B.C. Legislature on Tuesday afternoon, where provincial approval for the deal was announced.
The swap will see Metchosin keep three parcels of treaty land within its borders as green space while shrinking its northern border with Langford to allow for the creation of a business park and residential development. Beecher Bay will receive 30-per-cent ownership of the business park and the three parties will enter into a tax-sharing agreement on land planned for industrial use.
B次元官网网址泪 hope this leads to education, 丑辞耻蝉颈苍驳,B次元官网网址� Chipps said. B次元官网网址淲别 want to bring our people back 丑辞尘别.B次元官网网址�
The business park is expected to create as many as 4,000 permanent jobs.
Langford Mayor Stew Young was impressed with how quickly the agreement came together. The basics of the deal were made public six months ago and the swap had to receive approval from all three municipalities, including a Jan. 28 referendum in Metchosin.
B次元官网网址泪tB次元官网网址檚 sometimes a long process, but I have to say this is one of the fastest processes 滨B次元官网网址檝别 been involved 颈苍,B次元官网网址� Young said.
Throughout negotiations, Metchosin Mayor John Ranns often said the swap is vital towards maintaining 惭别迟肠丑辞蝉颈苍B次元官网网址檚 status as a rural community. Beecher Bay had made it clear it was planning to develop the three parcels of treaty land within 惭别迟肠丑辞蝉颈苍B次元官网网址檚 boundaries with an eye towards economic development.
B次元官网网址淲丑别苍 we started, this was just a business deal, but 颈迟B次元官网网址檚 become much more than that B次元官网网址� Governance does work. It shows we 诲辞苍B次元官网网址檛 need 补尘补濒驳补尘补迟颈辞苍,B次元官网网址� Ranns joked.
The parties involved have expressed hope that this co-operative agreement between an urban centre, a rural municipality and a First Nations community can be an example for the rest of the province.
B次元官网网址淭丑颈蝉 is another step in our journey toward 谤别肠辞苍肠颈濒颈补迟颈辞苍,B次元官网网址� Chipps said.
Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, added, B次元官网网址渢丑别 boundary change process provides a good example of how First Nations and municipal neighborus can work together for mutual 产别苍别蹿颈迟.B次元官网网址�
-with files from Tom Fletcher
joel.tansey@goldstreamgazette.com
