Qualicum is an interesting place. I have lived here since 1993. People from many parts of Canada live here.
I have been involved in politics: in high school, in university, municipally, provincially and federally spanning over 45 years. Something strange seems to be happening here.
Some people are overly exercised about the fact that a majority in this council voted a certain way, somewhat different than the voting of the recent past. They almost imply that a majority is undemocratic. How odd. Except that when the council was composed of more leftist people, a majority was not division but democracy in action.
In the provincial Legislature and the House of Commons, there is always division. The majority carries and people move on. Not here. When a majority voted to rotate our representation on the regional district so that more council members would get to know the workings of the region, this was portrayed as some nefarious plot reminiscent of medieval times. An expansion to an existing golf course, one of our economic advantages, becomes mired in European-type red tape.
Change can be an ugly phenomenon or a golden opportunity. Here it seems, increasingly, to be viewed by a vocal minority, who regularly agitate and attend council meetings and gain the headlines, as the former. Sad.
We need young people to care for us, pick up our groceries, work and contribute, entertain us, so that us older people are not just the only ones around to pay what will be higher taxes. If the young are not here, we will decline over time if that is the case. A little bubble lost in time. Our own irrelevant world. Some I talk to from outside already view us that way.
I am 72 and I don’t want that. I am chancellor of a private business school in Vancouver with students from all over the world. They talk of change, opportunity.
We have lost population in the last two years (B.C. government statistics) and have been one of the slowest-growth places on the island since 2006, according to Statistics Canada. One school has closed. Fewer young people, fewer children, one less school. Yet we have smart, innovative people here.
We need people like incumbent council candidates Dave Willie, Bill Luchtmeijer and Mary Brouilette — and now also mayoral candidate Denyse Widdifield — to challenge èthe status quo and advocate for change, balanced growth and opportunity, to be a part of the future with our children and grandchildren.
A. Brian PeckfordQualicum Beach
