We have resided in North Saanich for nearly four years. This municipality is a jewel and worth protecting. The debate regarding development is ongoing and polarized. We would like to offer our view on this.
Our council is rightly concerned with protecting farm land. It’s the wise thing to do. If it is developed then it is gone forever. Not something most would want.
However, we are concerned about the economic reality facing farms. We are told through studies that they face many economic and other challenges. Therefore we question council’s enthusiasism to stress farming as the economic driver. Perhaps we should ask ourselves: are there too many farms? Can they really be financially viable? How much of taxpayer funds should be used to support farming under current circumstances? How many jobs will farming really create? It doesn’t appear that these issues are being debated. It seems like protecting the land is the measure of success.
We have many families in North Saanich. For the most part it seems acceptable that the children can grow up here but once they are older they will leave to find employment and homes elsewhere. Our seniors face something similar. Once they feel unable to care for a larger property, they too must leave.
We would offer the following suggestions. As a municipality could we diversify our planning to include the future of our children, our seniors and all in between? Let’s protect our rural areas, but let’s also show interest in developing a future for everyone. Currently it is the airport that drives the economy and much of that planning is out of our control. Why can we not develop a high-tech business park using modern building methods that would be a major economic driver?
Also, can we not provide housing for seniors so they do not have to leave? Yes, it may require smaller homes such as condos and townhomes. It is not right that we watch them leave after contributing to our district for many years. All of this can be done with environmentally sound methods. It does not have to be urban sprawl and if done properly does not lead to uncontrolled development.
It is possible to protect rural land, provide well paying jobs, housing for all ages and circumstances without losing the focus on farming. It may even be that a diversified economic base and prosperous population may be excactly what our farming community needs to succeed.
Lucy and Allan Tomminen,
North Saanich
