$150 million dollars! That’s the amount Saanich wants to borrow without your vote, via the Alternative Approval Process (AAP). Unless you specifically object via the official Elector Response Form, your silence is deemed to be consent. This is to fund development at the McKenzie/Borden yard, with rebuilding of the Saanich Operations Centre. This is the highest amount of borrowing in Saanich’s history, and is being attempted via the arguably undemocratic opt-out Alternative Approval Process.
We know the buildings are old and need to be rebuilt, but the majority of funding will be used to pay the for infrastructure prior to development. Saanich hopes to partner with a developer, who would pay them $30 million for the ground lease of 99 years, and who in turn would build two 18 storey buildings. This is a venture with high financial risk, speculation, and assumptions. Saanich residents deserve to have a democratic referendum vote on this major financial venture that will impact their taxes going forward.
Please print the Elector Response Form from our SaveOurSaanich website. If you are unable to scan and email it to Saanich, we will happily pick it up from you. You only need to send a message to our SaveOurSaanich website with your address.
We will also be available Saturday May 31st and Sunday June 1st from 9am - 4pm at both Madrona Farm on 4317 Blenkinsop Rd and The Ploughshare Farm Market at 4649 West Saanich Rd where you can discuss the issue and sign the ballot there.
We also continue to await Saanich’s revised version of the Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP) which is due shortly. We will update you by email and our website at that time, so you can respond to any Saanich new QMP public engagement process.
SaveOurSaanich.