Saanich council is hesitant to endorse the South Island Prosperity Project’s request that the province supply an additional $1.8 million in funding.
Ten local governments signed on to SIPP earlier this year, committing to a total of $600,000 in annual funding. To kickstart the process, SIPP has crafted a letter asking the province to match the annual $600,000 municipal funding with a three-year pilot basis of $600,000 per year.
Instead of voting in favour, the majority of council preferred to revisit it, likely in October. The SIPP request asks Oak Bay and Victoria to also endorse the letter.
“It’s something I’d like to see move along,” said Coun. Fred Haynes, Saanich council’s liaison to the newly created SIPP. “I expect council will endorse it once they see other municipalities on board.”