Dreaming the Possible Dream

Frants Attorp’s Viewpoint this week (see below) was based on misinformation. The bylaw he quoted, Bylaw 467, governs the establishment of advisory “commissions.” Commissions are different than “committees.” The Housing Action Program Task Force, was not a commission, and was, therefore, not subject to the “rules” of Bylaw 467.

Regardless, Mr. Attorp continues to fail to understand this community has been in the midst of an unresolved, workforce housing crisis for over 20 years, one which existed before he moved here.

Apart from myself, I am not aware of anyone presenting a comprehensive plan to address the issue. And by that I mean a solution that addresses the magnitude of the problem, the affordability, the locations, the process, the rezonings required, the scale of development, and, the mechanisms needed to ensure that the proposed increased development to house our workforce remains sustainably affordable going into the future.

Solutions to some of the pieces of the “puzzle” were addressed by the recent Task Force, just like some were addressed by the housing task force we assembled in 2002-2005, when I was a Trustee.

Salt Spring Islanders who own their own homes at the moment need to wake up to the economic displacement that is going on with respect to our workforce, which represents about ½ of our population (6,340 employees as of the last census).

Given current housing prices and interest rates, purchase of housing without large down payments is now impossible for the vast majority of workers in 2024.

Anyone who has ever considered/studied the issue understands that we are on the same trajectory as Nantucket Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Vale, Whistler and Catalina Island. Housing does not, and will not, magically become more affordable here. It will take a plan and political willpower to overcome the “Attorps” who incessantly bemoan and insist the island cannot sustain the growth necessary to address the crisis.

I call BS on that, and, over the years, I’ve challenged them to come up with an alternative, realistic solution to the crisis. Their response has been crickets. Using their own argument, I have at times, sarcastically suggested every one of them, who moved here since the inception of the Islands Trust in 1974, should leave and go back to from whence they came, if they think the island is over populated. Better still, demolish their homes, return the land back to nature and hand it over to the nearest First Nation. But, to date, and unsurprisingly, I haven’t had any takers to that suggestion.  

The crisis is solvable, but the political willpower it requires, apart from Trustee Jamie Harris, is sadly lacking. Last Fall I publicly called for Trustee Patrick’s resignation, and, to date I have seen no action on her part which would convince me to rescind that call. She dismissed the Housing Task Force, ignored them, killed Bylaw 530, created her “silly” proposed Bylaw 537, and here we are 5 ½ years since she was first elected and I am not aware of any practical vision, or solution, or pathway forwards she has presented to truly address the crisis. 

On the other hand, Trustee Harris has been stymied at every turn (by Patrick and Trustee Tim Peterson from Lasqueti Island) in his efforts to make quick amendments to the OCP to address the workforce housing crisis. Instead, we are now on another slow boat of OCP studies and committees to advise Patrick and Peterson who apparently believe they need to hear more from the community on the issue.

Given there have been over 20 studies on the crisis, in about as many years, the term “studied to death” is appropriately applicable here. And yet Patrick wants to set up yet another committee to inform her of what the community thinks about housing. If this is her version of leadership in the middle of our crisis, Heaven help us all, because all I see in our future is another wasted 2 ½ years til the next election… unless she wants to do us all (with the exception of the “Attorps”) a favour and step down now, so we can hold a by-election, and elect someone who is ready and willing to cut through the chaff, stand with Harris, and do what needs to be done.

The only thing that is fading fast is our workforce…the dream of a sustainable future however is achievable…lack of vision is not an excuse to do nothing.

Would love to see responses to the Driftwood, from anyone else who agrees.