I am extremely worried that on Oct. 18, our North Cowichan mayor and three council members rammed through Building Amendment Bylaw No 3932, 2023, six years sooner than the provincial government’s recommended step code to reduce emissions. It seems to me the mayor and his three cohorts are obsessed with N.C. being the first place in the province to move on these initiatives. They are ignoring important needs of this valley right now, such as the lack of affordable housing.
With this bylaw, in only seven months from now on July 1, 2024, apartment type building construction can only have electricity sources for heating and cooking or LNG – which may not be ready to go in the Valley. No other alternative heating sources will be allowed. This decision was done without even involving the builders, and members of the public and Fortis’ ideas to council were ignored.
Buyers and renters are already struggling to find affordable housing. I heard that when this takes affect, some builders may not bother to start projects, which is a real worry. I know young people are moving away because they can’t find affordable housing here. That’s our next generation of workers, potential home owners and therefore future taxpayers.
I think council is harming our community by ramming this through years before necessary. But wait. There is more! Next they may be putting through bylaws that all older homes must be retrofitted to meet new emission standards. Will you be able to afford such an upgrade?
In the mayor’s report at the start of the meeting he said if we didn’t like what council was doing we could vote them out in the next election. Yes we will. Except for Councillors Findlay, Manhas and Caljouw who showed common sense and voted against passing this bylaw right now.
Pat Cruikshank,
North Cowichan