The Arrowsmith Water Services (AWS) appears to be an RDN pawn.
It was set up as a publicly funded service to ensure a water supply in the future for Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and the RDN’s French Creek, and Nanoose.
So, at some 60 per cent of shares Parksville gets one vote. At some 14 per cent Qualicum gets one vote. The RDN, with some 22 per cent gets the third vote.
When Qualicum cuts back to six per cent, will they continue to have their one vote? How come there are not weighted votes according to share value?
The AWS holds meetings in the RDN offices without notifying the public, there are no published minutes or agendas, and when the public does appear at meetings, they get turfed out as the majority of the meeting is in camera.
There is no opportunity for the public to ask questions, and yet they operate with taxpayer money.
When we attended a meeting March 17, we couldn’t question the budget nor the proceedings. We were there for all of eight minutes to hear that they approved the minutes of the Jan. 13 meeting and the budget. The rest was going to be kept a big secret. Get out!
Joe Stanhope was too busy strutting about in his green top hat for St. Patrick’s Day than affording the public a right to know.
Democracy? I don’t think so.
Elaine Hofer
Jacquie Ostrow
Gerard Archambault
Al Pastars
Parksville
