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LETTER: Public hearing not a protest

I am pleased to see some correction to Travis Peterson’s article entitled “Put the Green Back in Saanich”. It is correct that Nathalie Chambers did noy book a public forum on March 17 at Spectrum. However, the corrected article is very misleading and steers the readers into believing this is a political protest with an agenda set by Nathalie Chambers. Let’s be clear, this is a public hearing, organized and booked by the District of Saanich.
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I am pleased to see some correction to Travis Peterson’s article entitled “Put the Green Back in Saanich”. It is correct that Nathalie Chambers did noy book a public forum on March 17 at Spectrum. However, the corrected article is very misleading and steers the readers into believing this is a political protest with an agenda set by Nathalie Chambers. Let’s be clear, this is a public hearing, organized and booked by the District of Saanich. This public hearing will feature representatives other than Nathalie Chambers group and they will address topics other than what Nathalie Chambers article mentions. This public hearing on March 17 welcomes all Saanich residents wishing to speak to Mayor and Council on the motion to ‘Remove all provisions related to the EDPA from the Official Community Plan” which will then allow Saanich to start work on the more important motion of developing a biodiversity strategy and stewardship program for everyone in Saanich. The current EDPA Bylaw only applies to five per cent of the land in Saanich. Evidence has shown many of these properties were incorrectly mapped and do not have sensitive ecosystems on them. Why then settle on this 5% being responsible for the green in Saanich? We need to do better than that if our environment is to be sustainabl The environment belongs to all of us. A biodiversity strategy and stewardship program for 100 per cent of Saanich will do a much better job of protecting and enhancing our natural environment. 100 per cent of our environment versus five per cent should be something we all agree to. Let’s take this high road together.

Anita Bull, president

Saanich Citizens for a Responsible EDPA Society