10/28/2023
Great letter in todays TC. PLEASE attend Monday to Saanich Council, we need your voice!
Where’s the evidence on Saanich dogs?
We are still waiting for evidence that there is a significant problem with pets in Saanich parks.
According to Saanich’s own studies, there are about 12 complaints a year about off-leash dogs (hardly a crisis justifying a $10 million solution), but they have provided no evidence demonstrating that off-leash dogs cause environmental damage, despite repeatedly clinging to this claim. Instead, Saanich council would rather divide the community and spout outrageous statements such as PKOLS being one of the most ecological sensitive areas in Canada.
To be clear — we all love PKOLS, which is why we want to find a way to both enjoy and protect it, but as has been the case all through this process, council has provided no evidence to back up these claims.
Saanich citizens deserve and expect good governance. This isn’t the land of Donald Trump where you can just toss out some blatant falsehood in some embarrassing attempt to justify your position and expect it to be believed.
Such action demeans council and the citizens they serve, further undermining the lack of credibility council already has on this issue.
If council wants to reduce recreation opportunities for citizens and spend millions of dollars to do it, we should see compelling evidence why this should be so. Yet we have seen nothing. Council members have already shown their propensity to raise taxes and spend money on frivolous items, and their conduct on this issue is only increasing scrutiny of council’s poor priorities.
Citizens are not pleased.
Robert Watson
Victoria