Rankin file Victoria’s new MP prepares for life in Ottawa Page A3
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CRD committee rejects delay bid on treatment plant Non-elected oversight commission of experts will run project Daniel Palmer News staff
After three hours of debate and staff presentations, Capital Regional District directors rejected a motion to delay the $783million wastewater treatment project on Tuesday. The vote was held over from a Nov. 14 liquid waste management committee meeting, where nearly 30 public speakers argued for and against regional secondary sewage treatment. Saanich Coun. Vic Derman and Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins defended their motions to pursue a low-risk designa“Let’s put this in tion under federal regulations, perspective. It’s a big a move that would extend the deadline for compliance from global cost (to not 2020 to 2040. treat sewage) and we “This is not about not treathave a responsibility to ing our sewage, this is about a better plan,” Desimplement (treatment).” ensuring jardins said. – Mayor Dean Fortin Derman argued better technology and money-saving measures can still be implemented. Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin spoke for the majority on the committee when he said treatment is overdue and necessary. “For each household, it’s a dollar a day,” Fortin said. “Let’s put this in perspective. It’s a big global cost (to not treat sewage) and we have a responsibility to implement (treatment).” View Royal Mayor Graham Hill, one of four directors who voted to delay the project, implored his colleagues to work harder to gain public support for the mega-project. He said directors would face consequences for failing to do so at the next municipal election. “We have a challenge and it’s called the will of the public,” he said. “We need time to put on a better face to the community – so that we have their confidence and trust.” The committee also approved a bylaw that will establish a commission of experts to run the project. PLEASE SEE: Biosolids facility, Page A12
Edward Hill/News staff
Capital Regional District liquid waste management commitee member Judy Brownoff argues that the water and marine environment off Victoria is absorbing too many pollutants at the city’s sewage outfalls.
The science of sewage Scientist tries to separate effects of effluent from politics of poop
T
he sewage debate Sewage Treatment: a Brief has been raging History of Slime.” in the Capital The discussion was a Regional District for part of a free, informal the last two decades. series aimed at bridging With each passing the science-to-public year, the distinction gap – something that has between political and been notably missing environmental motives when it comes to the behind a proposed $783highly politicized sewage million project grows more debate over whether or Natalie North not difficult to separate. the CRD truly needs Reporting Jay Cullen, a professor to change its ways of at the University of streaming sewage into the Victoria School of Earth and Ocean Strait of Juan de Fuca from Clover Sciences, recently led a Café and Macaulay points. Scientifique talk titled “Victoria’s “The CRD operates a world-class
program to determine the impact of the effluent on the health of the marine environment and the potential impact on public health,” says Cullen, whose research is focused on metal chemistry in sea water. “For the most part, the impact of the effluent on the marine environment, and certainly on public health, is minimal.” Cullen admits the effluent does have some measurable impact on the marine environment. PLEASE SEE: Opinions vary, Page A5
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