On Sept. 6 (and 7 if it proves necessary, and it looks like it will) there will be public hearings on the Ilkey proposal for development of his land adjacent to the Juan de Fuca Marine Tail. These will run from 5 to 10 at Edward Milne.
There is nothing new to be said regarding the proposal which has been mulled over in committees and in the public press for years. There are advantages and concerns which are matters of legitimate debate.
What is new is the declared attempt by the Dogwood Initiative and their allies to turn this public hearing into a bearpit with the particular intent of intimidating elected officials who will be running for re-election. This is outlined on their website and has also been published in Vancouver via the Georgia Straight.
In their declaration of war, the Dogwood Initiative accepts that legally they have no more bullets to fire. So get out the bullhorns and pack the meeting.
I have no doubt that the individuals legally charged with reviewing this application and making recommendations on its disposition are fully capable of drawing their own, independent conclusions as is their duty.
It is galling that they will be bombarded with hours of repetitive and tedious rhetoric from the rent-a-crowd from the city. It would be nice to think that they will also hear from local residents - pro and con - amidst the sloganeering of the crowd.
Peter Martin
Victoria