This morning Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, stated that the provincial government is ready to facilitate a solution to the ongoing sewage treatment situation.
Eager to resolve the matter within the federal and provincial timelines, Fassbender said the province can offer advice and expertise. The deadline for Federal funding of any treatment plant is March 31.
“It’s important right off the top to say that this is a local issue. We are interested for the sake of taxpayers to find a cost-effective, timely way forward. The Province respects local government jurisdiction, and would not take lightly any decision to impinge upon that,” Fassbender said.
Later today the sewage committee approved a new sewage treatment option plan that would focus in on tertiary plants at Clover Point and McLoughlin Point. The motion will also see staff sending the change in plans to Victoria and Esquimalt councils, to seek approval in principle of the proposed sites.
The amendment request however still involves a call for submissions of other ideas.
Recently, Washington lawmakers threatened Victoria with a proposed ban on state workers travelling to the city on business, to put pressure on the CRD to resolve the issue. Victoria is the only major West Coast city without a sewage treatment plant.
