Friday, February 15, 2019 ~ GREATER VICTORIA.
~ West Shore Voice News
The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has identified and approved priorities that will guide CRD operations over their 2019–2022 mandate.
Through a series of facilitated Board planning sessions beginning in November 2018, Board Directors met to discuss the most pressing community issues facing the region.
“I’d like to thank the CRD Board for their participation in this process,” said CRD Board Chair Colin Plant. “We recognize the extensive work the CRD is already doing for the region and will continue to do as we establish these important priorities for our community. Through the CRD’s established service planning and budget processes, we will determine how best to fund our priorities and initiatives, with a focus on delivering value to taxpayers.”
Acknowledging existing plans and strategies that guide the CRD, the Board has identified four priorities:
• Community Wellbeing – Transportation & Housing;
• Climate Action & Environmental Stewardship;
• First Nations Reconciliation; and
• Advocacy, Governance & Accountability.
Community Wellbeing emphasizes continued investment in regional priorities such as the $90-million Regional Housing First Program, an equal partnership agreement between the CRD, the BC government through BC Housing, and the federal government through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, with construction and opening of affordable housing projects underway throughout the region. The CRD has also engaged with the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure to advance transportation improvements on the South Island.
The Climate Action & Environmental Stewardship priority encourages bold action on climate change, supported by an approved motion by the CRD Board at the February 13, 2019 meeting for the CRD to declare a climate emergency. A growing list of cities—including Vancouver—have joined an international movement to declare a State of Emergency regarding the climate crisis, promising to accelerate their climate action efforts to achieve net zero carbon emissions. All levels of governments in Canada have identified climate change as a priority policy area and are developing plans, policies and strategies to address this issue.
As part of First Nations Reconciliation, the CRD Board will take measurable steps toward developing respectful government-to-government relationships and partnerships with First Nations to foster shared prosperity for all. This priority is demonstrated in the CRD’s Statement of Reconciliation, a commitment which will guide decision making for the organization for many years to come.
Included as part of the Advocacy, Governance & Accountability priority are two initiatives that focus on the region’s electoral areas. The first initiative is development of an advocacy strategy to ensure all occupied properties have the opportunity to access high-speed internet services. The second initiative is development of a comprehensive strategy and operational review to reflect the unique needs and governance of each electoral area.
These priorities and related initiatives will be implemented over the Board’s four-year term. To remain responsive to the needs of the region, the Board has committed to annual reviews.
With approval of the plan, CRD staff will develop an accompanying Corporate Plan, which will align CRD programs and projects with Board priorities and inform operational plans and budgets for the coming years.
For more information, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/plans