If you thought debate over a proposed recommendation for restructuring for West Howe Sound, Elphinstone and the Town of Gibsons was finally over with last week's decision - think again.
On May 25 the restructure committee, by a vote of 10-2, voted to ask the Minister for Community Services for a referendum. And this week, the Sunshine Coast Regional District board voted to send directors Lorne Lewis (Elphinstone) and Lee Turnbull (West Howe Sound) to meet with Minister Ida Chong to discuss holding three separate votes and other referendum issues - all of this despite the fact the committee recommended the referendum should be a simple majority plus one of the entire voting block rather than requiring a majority from each area.
So now, with your tax dollars, Lewis, Turnbull and probably others from the SCRD, will fly off to Victoria for a meeting with the minister that isn't needed.
The committee has been entrusted to do all the research and for the past 18 months have worked diligently trying to come to some solutions. They've finally completed their work, made their recommendations and await word from Chong whether a referendum will be held. Now the SCRD board, led by Lewis and Turnbull, basically say they don't care what the committee has recommended. It's all fine and dandy for the board to have opinions and share those with the committee, but the board (namely Lewis and Turnbull) is sticking its nose in where it does not belong. Why are Lewis and Turnbull so afraid to have a vote? Why are they doing everything in their power to change the rules, change recommendations and change the process?
If Chong decides a referendum should be held (and her decision will be final, we'd like to point out), residents will finally have a chance to have their say. If it's a yes vote, restructure will proceed. If it's a no vote, nothing will change and this issue can finally be put to rest.
That's democracy at its finest - and that's the way it should be.
