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LETTER: CRD flushing money down the drain

We’ve been told that the CRD directors are looking out for the taxpayer regarding the wastewater project.
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We’ve been told that the CRD directors are looking out for the taxpayer regarding the wastewater project.

Why is there no posted financial statement to prove the expenses to date? Until the expenses are varified, how can the taxpayer believe that the project is “on time, under budget”?

Albert Sweetnam received $297,000 salary for two years plus a $500,000 severance package, two years later for not getting the job done. He would have received an additional years pay if the project had been completed by September 2018.

It is as if some of the CRD directors are playing the Jeopardy game. Perhaps we should be asking them questions like: What is transparency? Why has the CRD taken 20 years just to reject “new IRM technology?” What is the true meaning of “on time, on budget’?

There has been a complete change of direction on IRM by a majority of the CRD directors.

Suddenly, the IRM costs have been taken from the balance sheet. Is this an example of political trickery by deferring the IRM cost of $100 million, just before this year’s municipal election?

Other questions: Why isn’t the $17 million Viewfield property being converted to affordable housing, if it is not required for the wastewater project?

Has the CRD now become real estate speculators and holding assets while adding to the sewage debt? Are some of the directors applying 3D finance techniques (defer, delay, dawdle) of the former provincial government?

The taxpayers deserve a true financial statement that they can scrutinize before the next municipal election. We have experienced politicians who know how to handle the media and know how to manipulate the voter.

The voters just need to know the truth.

Art Bickerton

Saanich