Our congratulations to Mary Marcotte,
on winning the election!
Our local election is this Saturday, October 20th. Who should you vote for in CVRD Area H? We assembled a Candidates’ Questionnaire on matters that concern us. Here are the candidates’ responses.
CVRD Area H Candidates
Bill Carter
Mary Marcotte
www.cvrd.bc.ca/317/Mary-Marcotte
Murray McNab
| 1 | How are you recommending that people vote on the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service referendum? | For or Against? |
| Bill Carter: For. We need to understand our own water resources.
Mary Marcotte: The Director does not recommend anything to anyone. The Director reflects and respects the community’s wishes as contained in the Official Community Plan. Murray McNab: AGAINST. I am against the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service referendum. I believe that ALL other voters should be able to decide for themselves, which way they vote on this referendum! I believe the Provincial Government has jurisdiction over both surface and groundwater. As a person who has lived with a water well for most of my life, I understand the importance of groundwater and it’s protection. As a former water well driller, who has drilled hundreds of water wells on two continents, as well as my own well in Yellow Point, I know the problems associated with drilling water wells in a fractured bedrock environment. This should not come under the CVRD! |
||
| 2 | How are you recommending that people vote on the Cowichan Housing Association Annual Financial Contribution referendum? For or Against? | For or Against? |
| Bill Carter: FOR. I feel strongly about helping fixed income and low-income folks.
Mary Marcotte: The Director does not recommend anything to anyone. The Director reflects and respects the community’s wishes as contained in the Official Community Plan. Murray McNab: FOR. I was originally against the Cowichan Housing Association Annual Financial Contributions referendum, but am now going to vote for this referendum. As with the other referendum, I believe that ALL other voters should be able to make up their own minds on this referendum. It was explained to me how these funds could be used to attract up to 400% more funding from the other 2 levels of government. |
||
| 3 | Would you support the development of a CVRD regional property tax incentive to reward landowners who are already practising sustainable forest management, or who have placed an ecological covenant on their land? | A – Support in Principle
B – Willing to Champion C – Not Sure D – Opposed |
| Bill Carter: I support this in principle.
Mary Marcotte: To the best of my knowledge there has been no request for a regional tax incentive from CVRD staff or from Area H residents and property owners. Murray McNab: I would be willing to champion the development of a CVRD regional property tax incentive, to reward landowners for either sustainable forest management or an ecological covenant on their land. |
||
| 4 | Would you support the use of density transfers, allowing a landowner to sell development potential to a landowner in an area where density transfer units can be received for an approved development? Thus, if you own 20 acres zoned to allow four 5-acre lots, you could sell some or all of the density, the remaining forest being protected by an ecoforestry covenant. | A – Support in Principle
B – Willing to Champion C – Not Sure D – Opposed |
| Bill Carter: Yes, I am willing to champion this.
Mary Marcotte: More information and thought should be given this proposal. There should be no development without a secure and sustainable water source. Murray McNab: I would be willing to champion the use of density transfers. This would allow landowners to realise a gain, while preserving a large parcel of land that would then be protected by an ecoforestry covenant. |
||
| 5 | Would you support the enactment of a CVRD zoning bylaw requiring clustered or carefully placed development on lots of ten acres or more? For example, where the zoning allows 5-acre lots, a landowner with 20 acres could develop 4 carefully placed homes on 4 1-acre lots, the remaining acres being required to be protected by an ecoforestry covenant. | A – Support in Principle
B – Willing to Champion C – Not Sure D – Opposed |
| Bill Carter: Yes, I am willing to champion this.
Mary Marcotte: Where is the secure and sustainable water source? Murray McNab: I would support in principal the enactment of a CVRD zoning bylaw requiring, clustered or carefully placed developments. The clustering of drilled water wells in a small area will create problems, if wells are drilled into a bedrock environment. |
||
| 6 | Would you support asking the CVRD to seek provincial amendment of Development Permit Area (DPA) rules, classifying all Coastal Douglas fir forest as an endangered ecosystem, enabling environmentally sensitive DPAs to be applied; requiring a permit for any subdivision; and strengthening the rules to require the clustering or careful placement of development, with the remaining forest being protected by an ecoforestry covenant? | A – Support in Principle
B – Willing to Champion C – Not Sure D – Opposed
|
| Bill Carter: Yes, I am willing to champion this.
Mary Marcotte: This is an issue for senior government. The CVRD has no jurisdiction. Murray McNab: I would be opposed to this. |
||
| 7 | Would you support asking the CVRD to support the creation by the provincial government of a Coastal Douglas Fir Land Reserve, guaranteeing landowners’ development rights but requiring that development be clustered and covenanted, as above, and still allowing logging on condition that it follows ecoforestry principles? | A – Support in Principle
B – Willing to Champion C – Not Sure D – Opposed |
| Bill Carter: Yes, I am willing to champion this.
Mary Marcotte: Need more information Murray McNab: I would be opposed to this. |
||
| 8 | Would you support the CVRD in taking strong action to tackle the climate crisis, and to prepare for its impacts? | A – Support in Principle
B – Willing to Champion C – Not Sure D – Opposed |
| Bill Carter: Yes, I support this in principle.
Mary Marcotte: I support the principle of tackling climate change, and encourage everyone to lighten their ecological footprint. Murray McNab: I would be willing to champion for the CVRD to take strong action to tackle the climate crisis and prepare for its impacts. |
||
| 9 | What initiatives will you take to communicate with people in Area H? | |
| Bill Carter: Interactive website – Email – Telephone – Text messages. It’s very important to have Town-Hall style community coffee meetings to discuss issues quarterly!
Mary Marcotte: A. Spoken word. B. Printed word. Murray McNab: I will set up a web site to share ALL information that affects Area H residents. The only items not to be listed would be, items discussed In Camera. This web site would also allow all residents to respond to the Director, with any comments and concerns. I would respond to all calls, texts, emails and letters in a timely manner. I would hold Town Hall meetings at least once a year and more often when there is an OCP Review. I will reinstate the Parks, Fire and Advisory Planning Commissions. All of these commissions would be allowed to operate independent of the Directors influence. I would listen to all comments and concerns that are brought to my attention |
||
Election Day: Saturday October 20th, 8am-8pm
Locations: North Oyster Elementary School, 13270 Cedar Road
If you are 18 or over, you can register to vote on the day of the vote.
For details, see here.
Yellow Point Ecological Society 
Thanks for this. I have contacted Mary and Bill through their CRVD emails but neither have bothered to respond. When I contacted Murray about some concerns for traffic and fireworks he was a bit flip at first but later responded with a more reasoned answer. I may not agree with everything he does but at least he responded and so will get my vote.
LikeLike