It would appear that I am not the flavour of the month amongst some of the ladies — and gentlemen — who are blessed with calling Qualicum Beach home.
Rather surprising, considering the number of friendly hellos I receive when walking in town and the supportive conversations I share with dog-walking acquaintances.
I am told that facts, not conjecture should guide my expressed opinions, but what are the so-called facts?
Managed growth, whatever that means, is apparently urban sprawl that will dot the area with residential nodes that would make nonsense of the guidelines of OCP, Urban Containment Boundaries, zoning, agricultural and forest reserves, traffic reduction, compact town and so on.
Is it possible that Nanaimo’s loss is Qualicum Beach’s gain — or vice-versa?
Affordable housing, whatever that means, is reliant upon financial help from all levels of government and/or corporate largess. Then, who’s to decide who gets it, young families or downsizing seniors? Which comes first, job creation or housing?
Public transit, many variations already tried and discontinued, guaranteed to break the bank. As long as there’s a car in the driveway it will be used.
Thoughts of a district-wide bus service are, sadly, pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. The same goes for the $100 million revitalized E&N Railway. Until all private vehicles are somehow removed from the roads transit is an unaffordable money-pit here.
So much more can be said in rebuttal, but the editor has limits, so let me close with the comment that while my upcoming vote is confidential it will be based, as best I can, on the quality of the candidates, not on extreme opinions. Councillor Brouilette has demonstrated an admirable ability to learn and contribute over the past three years and will stand high on my list of preferences .
F.H. Horner
Qualicum Beach