Election 2018 — What Topic Did Not Get Enough Discussion?

Global Warming — The Climate is Changing

We are already seeing the consequences of a 1°C increase of global warming ... this is a wake up call.

The recent report from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had impactful key messages for all of us.

https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/special-reports/sr15/sr15_spm_final.pdf

Panmao Zhai, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I stated “One of the key messages that comes out very strongly from this report is that we are already seeing the consequences of 1°C of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other changes.”

There is a candidate running in this election who is known to be a denier of climate change ... really ... with these expert reports being released regularly to say “wake up society”.

The warmer weather has caused cold climates not to get as cold, in the interior of BC, the pine beetle has destroyed forests, which is a fuel contributor to the forest fires leading to financial loss, families lives forever changed and so much more. Water impacts, water restrictions, loss of rain, rivers and creeks getting dangerously low ... impacts on fish and their habitats.

In Saanich with these hotter drier summer months ... plus look at the weather we are having in October ... the trees are dying more because of lack of rain. Boulevard trees, are being impacted and loss of tree canopy creates more heat ... more electricity being used to cool homes and businesses. How do those living on low income survive? Isolated seniors on their own?

Yes the the topics of this election were housing and transportation. I would say that how we manage these issues moving forward with a sustainable resilient climate lens, are also the issue, in fact “the issue” for future politicians. While the global impact differences we can make are small, Saanich can be an example and thought leader in this critical area.

To review some of the work Saanich is doing go to this link:
http://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/sustainable-saanich.html

Plus, as Chair of CRD Environment Services Committee, what we are doing at the CRD:
https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/what-we-do/sustainability/climate-change-a-priority

One last thing ... please use your democratic right ... and vote! 

Three Priorities

Saanich News asked candidates three priorities they would like to address as well as how they see what will make Saanich better. Here is my response:

  1. Support attainable housing choices near services and transit.

  2. Build an economic development plan that includes sports tourism.

  3. Restore Elk Beaver Lake by reducing algae blooms and weeds.

I will continue to support Saanich being a place for all ages and abilities. By introducing more intergenerational and intercultural programs and events, residents will be connected.

Creating opportunities, for attainable housing choices and our maturing population to age in place.

Enhancing parks and trails for residents to enjoy a healthier lifestyle together with great pocket parks and outdoor cafes in our centres, villages and corridors.

Our residents will be walking more with over 200 kilometres of new sidewalks and transit now includes rapid transit.

Our economy is growing with our economic development strategy, which is strengthening our businesses, recognizing Saanich as an “authentic” destination for tourists together with the growth in our sports tourism.

With innovation and retrofits operating costs are lowered. Plus, our Environmental Conservation Plan has seen great success in protecting, enhancing and restoring our at risk environment.

Saanich — a place for all.

Our Economy - where to from here

This is a key issue in my platform for 2018. Saanich has been called a “suburb” of Victoria ... which we are not. Victoria is our neighbour.

We are a District municipality who has grown predominantly as a bedroom community with some businesses. Times are changing, Saanich is the largest municipality on Vancouver Island. Plus 50% of land is inside Urban Containment Boundary (this is where municipal infrastructure is already located) and 50% Rural/farmland.

I have owned and operated two businesses in this region for almost 20 years. I have also co-owned and operated a ski school and shop on a mountain up North. I know how hard it is to make a dollar and how to evaluate expenses. I have been an entrepreneur for a good part of my working years. It is the reason I feel very strongly that Saanich needs an Economic Development Strategy and why I brought forwarded the following motion from the Planning, Transportation and Economic Development Committee, which I Chair:

“That Saanich Council direct staff to include the development of an Economic Development Strategy in the Strategic Plan update, to attract, support and maintain businesses throughout the District in order to diversify the tax base and maintain Saanich’s vibrant and high quality of life.” (Adopted unanimously by Saanich Council August 13, 2018)

Saanich has been changing, from where people live and travel outside Saanich for their jobs, services and supplies, to a municipality that is a more inclusive place ... a place for all ages and abilities.

Tourists are now seeing what Saanich has from our beaches, trails, Mount Douglas, Horticultural Centre, to the new Sports Tourism Commission located in Commonwealth Place. With the growth of Sports Tourism another motion I brought forward from PTED :

“That Council consider hotel development; and further, that the District work collaboratively with the tourism industry, through Tourism Victoria, to highlight Saanich’s numerous assets, and to support sustainable tourism growth throughout the region.” (March, 2018)

With the development of long range plans with our community, we have set the vision, but also the possibilities to create where growth will happen, opportunities for businesses and take away guess work of builders what we expect.

Such long range plans also provide opportunities to financially plan our infrastructure needs. Plans like the Shelbourne Valley, Active Transportation and soon to wrap up is our Uptown-Douglas corridor one.

Saanich contributes to growing our economy through our work projects. A new adopted plan was our Strategic Facilities Master Plan highlights a 20-year plan.

This plan looks at the strategic management of the District's publicly owned assets over the next twenty years with the goal of maintaining and improving services that residents rely on.  The plan takes into account the District's anticipated population and demographic growth trends along with changes in services, standards and practices, building codes and the wear and tear that the facilities experience on a daily basis.

Finally, creating opportunities to grow Saanich’s economy does not mean at the expense of our Quality of Life, which we all enjoy and why we decided to live in Saanich. From amazing green spaces, parks, trails and even those lovely planted islands (a senior reminded me how much she enjoyed them the other day) and so much more.

I know some may say Quality of Life is a buzz statement but here are two different definitions of Quality of Life, which I think resonates what we feel:

Quality of life is the general well-being of individuals and societies, outlining negative and positive features of life. It observes life satisfaction, including everything from physical health, family, education, employment, wealth, safety, security to freedom, religious beliefs, and the environment (Wikipedia).

WHO (World Health Organization) defines Quality of Life as an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. It is a broad ranging concept affected in a complex way by the person's physical health, psychological state, personal beliefs, social relationships and their relationship to salient features of their environment.

Meeting Our Housing Needs

I support Saanich continuing to work with partners in our Region to see attainable housing, rental and/or ownership, being built across the full spectrum of needs. 

This includes housing for employees, like work place housing, seniors, young adults and young families. Affordability is also about where located and that’s where services and good transit are. The types of choices could be townhouses, co-op, condos/apartments, and more.

We have been doing a lot of work around housing needs in Saanich and the Capital Regional District. It is important to recognize housing gaps are always changing.

The recently updated Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) identifies two key housing-related priorities integral to the long term livability and sustainability of the region:

  1. the development of policies and strategies designed to promote and support a range of housing types and tenures to meet the needs of individuals of all ages, incomes and abilities; and

  2. initiatives to improve housing affordability including the provision of a mix of housing types (market and non-market).

Saanich addresses Affordable Housing through:

  1. Participation in a regional housing affordability strategy led by the CRD;

  2. Financial support for regional affordable housing initiatives;

  3. Funding for projects through the Saanich Affordable Housing Fund;

  4. Affordable housing policy contained in the Official Community Plan (OCP).

Click here to see our Support for Housing Affordability in Saanich information sheet. Plus highlighting some of the Social Housing Projects in Saanich.

CRD Updated Regional Affordability Housing Strategy, which was adopted by the CRD Board, has the following goals on housing needs:

  • Goal #1: Build the right supply of housing across the spectrum;

  • Goal #2: Sustain a shared regional response to existing and emerging housing demand;

  • Goal #3: Protect and maintain existing non-market and market rental housing stock;

  • Goal #4: Develop and operationalize a regionally coordinated housing and homelessness response;

  • Goal #5: Create community understanding and support for affordable housing developments.

If you want to see some of the work we have been doing at CRD here are a couple of good links:

Connecting Community

We see and hear everywhere that we are more connected to our iPhones or iPads...our technology! Our youth can just be in front of their computers for hours. We have busy lives and do not reach out to family and friends like we used to. Society is creating isolation issues especially with our seniors.

Connecting Communities is about us reaching out to others. Talking and visiting with neighbours, friends and connecting with our youth and seniors.

Connecting with our natural environment to appreciate what we have. When you see a lonely senior walking on the street say “Hi”. We all need to connect with our greater community ... more.

I watched and learned how the loss of your spouse and friend of over 56 years can make you withdraw and not take care of yourself. My father went through this when my mother passed away 1.5 years ago. My father would chastise me before the death and say call us or visit us, they leave in Central Saanich. My sister called them every day. My calls and visits were sporadic and I would say you call me. My father would say ”You are busy we don’t want to bother you.”.

Today, every day, my Dad calls me at 8 am. We joke about things, he keeps me updated on his monitoring of blood pressure and sugar counts. I try to visit once a week .. sometimes if I get a cold, no visit. He goes to the pool and hot tub at Commonwealth Place four times a week. He has met some friends.

Connecting Communities is a theme I would like to address in Saanich. Having round table discussions with seniors, youth, business people or environmental groups. I believe these discussions can lead to a better understanding what’s happening on the ground.

I also want to establish a youth mentoring program. A couple of students have come to me asking about doing this. They would like to mentor with me, as a local Municipal politician, to see what the job entails. They want to create more awareness at school around Municipal election and being an elected Councillor. Plus they would like to become a Municipal Councillor or Mayor. This is exciting as they recognize that Municipal government is the closest order of government to the people.

I also want to monitor a pilot project Saanich will be launching at the end of October called NEAT (Neighbours Engaging in Activities Together) which is to reach out to isolated seniors. I am co-chair with the Public Health Agency of Canada of the Age-Friendly Communities Reference Group. Senior social isolation is an emerging issue across Canada and any program that might work here might work elsewhere.

Remember, Connecting Communities is about community building.

Welcome to the start of my Blog

 

The 2018 Saanich Municipal Election has started with a massive sign campaign ... expect more signs to come!

Saanich Needs to Invest in Our Green Infrastructure

Saanich is a community for all. The goal of local government is, as one retired Engineer said, to protect and maintain the publics’ assets - infrastructure. That may be true but it is more than that.

I have always believed that our “green” infrastructure is part of “protecting the public assets” and that trees improve the livability in Saanich, naturally.

There have been many studies over the importance of trees but for some reason they seem to be “disposable” during development. Did you know that for every 10% increase to our tree canopy ozone is reduced by 3-7%. Saanich has a Tree Appreciation Day where we plant trees and shrubs but I want us to measure how many trees we lose in a year and ensure the same amount, if not more are replanted.

Planting trees remains one of the most cost effective ways of drawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. For every 5% of tree cover in Saanich, storm water runoff is reduced by 2%. Trees, together with Saanich’s rain gardens along roads, reduce harmful chemicals that run off roads and sidewalks from reaching water courses. This is Mother Nature’s way of dealing with these chemicals. 

Studies have proven that that one mature tree can produce the same cooling effect as 10 room-sized air conditioners. This is an effective tool in reducing urban heat islands and hot spots in Saanich. Plus trees can save up to 10% of local energy consumption through their moderation of our local climate. 

Independent studies have also shown a consistent 5-15% increase in property values on tree lined streets, proving that trees increase commercial and residential real estate values.

Trees are just one part of Saanich’s “eco assets” or as some refer to this as “natural capital” which includes green spaces, water courses, and more. These natural assets need to be considered under the asset management system we use for our infrastructure.

I believe that our natural assets play a critical role in our municipal infrastructure. Let’s invest in our “green” infrastructure, look at incentives for planting more trees in our neighbourhoods, let’s recognize the benefits of trees for today and the future ... a sound investment.