It's my turn to cast an opinion on the Target Marine Hatcheries drama that has been unfolding at Sechelt council, and I find the whole thing absolutely ridiculous.
I've covered Sechelt council off and on since 1999 and I've never seen so much stalling, changing of opinion and red tape put forward by council on any other application that has come before them.
Since the Target Marine application to process sturgeon for caviar has come forward, council has put the applicant through the ringer, refusing to accept a staff report on the subject (the first time this has ever happened, to my knowledge), tabling the application, deferring it, asking for more staff reports, amending motions over and over again, defeating and rescinding the application and even mandating mediation when it appeared the nay sayers got too loud for councillors to comfortably make the decision themselves.
Then, when the application came back again for another attempt to move forward through the process, having met all of council's demanded changes, Coun. Fred Taylor moved to send it to referendum, and fellow councillors Warren Allan, Alice Janisch and Keith Thirkell agreed.
Council must listen to all sides and then make an informed decision, which is a difficult job, but it's not impossible.
We've had a public hearing on Target's application. Strong arguments have been made for and against, and I believe council has enough information to make a decision now.
I see this move as a sickening stall tactic that could effectively shut down Target's business or force them to move elsewhere.
Whether councillors are for or against Target's application, they should just say so and stop the stalling.
What do they think is going to come out of the referendum? If our letters page is any indication, I would bet the farm on the yes side winning that ballot.
So if the application goes to referendum and the majority of people say yes to allowing Target to simply take the eggs out of the sturgeon and can them on site, council will approve the zoning amendment needed to allow it, right? Actually, that referendum will be non-binding, meaning thousands of dollars will be spent on an answer council can ignore if they choose to.
So all of this craziness begs the question: why are some on council so opposed to moving Target's application forward? Is it that they really believe allowing Target to quietly remove eggs from sturgeon in a contained building that emits no noise or smell will negatively impact the community?
I don't think so.
Is it that some strong opponents are bending the ear of council due to a long standing issue with Target Marine over being granted the right to set up shop in the area in the first place? Perhaps that argument holds more water.
Regardless of the reason, it looks to me like council has created a precedent by not allowing Target's application to move through the process, and I would not be surprised if Target decides to sue for unfair treatment.
Stop the stalling. Bring the issue back, save us thousands of dollars spent on a referendum, and make an informed decision on Target's current application now.
