North Cowichan’s new mayor is looking to build stronger relationships between the municipality and the province over council’s four-year term.
Mayor Rob Douglas recently told council he joined other mayors and chairs of regional districts across Vancouver Island on a conference call with Anne Kang, who was named the province’s new Minister of Municipal Affairs in Premier David Eby’s cabinet shuffle in December.
He said he told Kang North Cowichan continues to face major challenges related to street disorder, homelessness and a lack of affordable housing.
“What was interesting about the call was to hear from so many other communities right up and down Vancouver Island that are facing many of the similar challenges that we’re facing, especially related to street disorder and the lack of affordable housing,” Douglas said.
Douglas said he and Deputy Mayor Debra Toporowski also recently met with Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA Doug Routley to discuss how the municipality and the province could work together to tackle these issues, as well as adapting to the effects of climate change and investing in public infrastructure.
“I’m looking forward to building a stronger relationship between our MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan over the next four years so we can deliver results for local residents,” he said.