The recreation commission had seven members (four elected), a school district rep and it provided a forum to plan and recommend major issues for Parksville and Qualicum areas. It met at least four times a year and was deeply involved in long term planning and public input. The non-elected officials were critical on RDN inaction.
The new Oceanside Services Committee has seven members, all elected. No school district rep and no non-elected officials and provides a forum to discuss issues. It will meet at least four times a year and provide a forum for our communities to plan longterm.
Essentially the elected officials got their wish. Eliminate the public off the commission, call the elected people a committee and tell everyone they will have a forum for public input.
Meanwhile, Parksville and Qualicum will have no new pool, no multiplex and no track at the high school and San Pareil and Rivers Edge will not have park upgrades or decent trails, French Creek will not know what’s going on behind RDN closed doors and a permanent solution for Deep Bay Sewage will not happen and everyone will suffer through even more meetings and inaction. The vote to make the change to the “nothing new but talk” committee was made by a majority of elected people from Nanaimo and outside of Qualicum and Parksville.
These two small towns need to grow up and expand their boundaries to exclude Area G of the RDN. If these previously recommended projects are not approved by the “nothing new but talk” committee after years of study and rejections are not committed to within three months, both Qualicum and Parksville councils should move to implement the Municipal Governance Act and expand their boundaries.
Enough talk, input, forums, and changing names of committees. It is time Nanaimo governed Nanaimo and not Parksville and Qualicum.
Ann Mcvey
Ravensong Action Group
Qualicum Beach