Dear Premier David Eby, Duncan and North Cowichan councillors, and CVRD directors:
Cowichan Citizen’s thought-provoking editorial of Oct. 23, 2024 is prescient indeed.
Political office has sadly become a popularity contest based on re-election, maintaining business as usual, and stirring few waves with the public.
That myopic mindset has apparently produced obscene prices for renewing aging infrastructures across Cowichan and throughout our province.
Our governments have failed to attract, develop and grow green industries and clean alternatives promising far more jobs and profits than our current lame economy.
Proof is clear by our deficits and puny tax base to fix our failing infrastructures, plus our housing and health crises, for starters.
Feckless politicians without clear, logical plans out of our tragic mess — and incumbents lacking new ideas nor proven results — should not morally seek office.
Meanwhile, things worsen as our leaders appease us by keeping tax hikes low. We must add more ducks to our tax-base pen.
Local solutions for boosting infrastructure bucks could include: amending provincial legislation to allow more local-government control; legally amending building codes to allow green, off-grid building — not costly traditional infrastructures — spanning electrical, water and sewer systems; trimming unnecessary staff, including ineffective CEOs; demanding measurable annual results from Economic Development Cowichan plus other public entities; installing fair rent controls, if legal, to help struggling business and residents; pilot projects testing results-based industries and economic models used elsewhere; protesting rampant urban sprawl demanded by Victoria; and limits to growth capping Cowichan’s population to save our farmland, aquifers and ecology.
We urge our local and provincial governments to stage town hall meetings to discuss these and other cogent ideas needed now.
Yours in smart growth,
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan
