SWM Referendum Comment ~ D. Steen

When the crowd at the recent Seniors Dinner was treated to a 5-minute promotion for the referendum's 'yes' side, I wondered out loud if the 'no' side had been offered equal time.

One diner asked incredulously, "Is anybody voting 'no'? Who would do that?"

Another said we should never turn over garbage control to the Cowichan Valley Regional District because "they are all idiots."

Maybe not all of us see the choice in such clear terms, but it does look like the garbage 'yes' vote is a done deal. It makes one wonder why we're having a vote at all, and spending a reported $12,000 for the privilege?

The CVRD called for the referendum because more than 30 property owners objected to raising the cap on annual garbage service spending from $40,000 to $100,000. Maybe thinking it's hopeless, the 'no' voters have done no open campaigning. Their only solace will come when they cast their vote. The 'yes' side, on the other hand, is pushing hard, not taking victory for granted.

Besides giving you a choice, the referendum offers the best chance to learn about garbage issues and take note of the promises to see if they're honoured in the future.

Here are a few more things TIRRA could promise:

One: Petition the province to change referendum rules because they are unfair. Off-islanders get only one vote per parcel, but all qualified island residents can vote whether they own property or not. Because this referendum is a singular money bylaw, there should be one vote per parcel. Anything else is taxation without proper representation.

Two: Commit to disallowing garbage service to people who don't pay an equal share. Some single properties have more than one household -- some up to a potential of six and ten houses each -- but only pay one parcel tax.

Three: Explain in dollar detail, in a published business plan, why the operation's costs have escalated so much, and how -- using detailed projections -- they will be reined in. This plan could help allay fears that the $100,000 cap will be a license to spend even more. The plan should show how non-volunteer garbage work will be contracted by a tendering process and outline the different roles of TIRRA and the contractor.

TIRRA could also acknowledge that its decision to ask the CVRD to more than double the garbage service cap triggered a negative response that led to the call for the referendum. A public budget that increases by as much as 1,000 percent over 20 years invites scrutiny and a promise it won't continue. As we move to bigger dollars, there's an increasing obligation to treat garbage as a serious public business that requires full accountability.

Dave Steen