Friday, October 19 ~ JUAN DE FUCA.
Daniel Yates who grew up in Kemp Lake is seeking to win the Regional Director’s seat in the CRD’s Juan de Fuca electoral area in the October 20, 2018 election.
He says his vision for Juan de Fuca (JdF) is “progress centered around rejuvenating a sense of community spirit” by creating events, places and programs.
“I hope to see our region capitalizing from the benefits of eco-tourism and creative small businesses,” said Yates in his statement to West Shore Voice News, in the October 12th print/PDF edition (see page 14).
Public involvement is a great concern to Yates. He says that during the next term it will be essential to see everybody involved in more of the decision making processes. “By going beyond the call of duty and truly supporting inquisition and public input I hope to rekindle the dream and faith in our combined potential,” says Yates.
Improvements for JdF, according to Yates: “Potential short term improvements include the need to upgrade some of our recreational areas, for example the old baseball park on West Coast Road. With organizing and funding we could easily create better areas for youth and families to enjoy the outdoors. Increasing Transit is urgent since the vastness of our area makes travelling without a vehicle difficult. We need to increase the existing minimal service to reflect current demand. Improving the quality of life in our community with quick and efficient actions is a top priority. More sponsored community events are a way to bring people together. All the pieces are there it is simply a matter of the right leadership. In the long-term we need more services and road improvements.”
“East Sooke will change dramatically because of current large development projects. Otter Point Road is becoming neglected and it too will need work, so clearly transportation upgrades will continue to be a dominant issue for us in the long-term. Water must be available down Otter Point Road and Willis Point Road in the years to come; some wells in Willis Point are now 600 feet deep. Water is crucial to fire response. Beyond basic services there’s a need for more recycling and waste management. Commercial innovation geared towards efficiently using our excess bio-waste could produce more jobs.”
As for housing: “Land-zoning issues have dominated the political scene all over the JdF for decades, it is an issue many residents value as we strive to strike balance between the growth and preservation of our rural region. Low-density and rural zones compose the bulk of our region, it is important to control any divergence and future applications by encouraging even more public involvement. Naturally growth will occur so what we must shape and prioritize that growth, aligning growth towards benefiting our community at large instead of private interests (shift away from placing private interests first at the negotiation table). I plan on facilitating the process for individuals to create income suites by removing barriers and providing incentives. A community parcel could accommodate many needs into one location allowing us to provide temporary housing and services like organic waste management.”
Dealing with CRD: “Optimum relations between members of a board requires empathy and patience. This election could produce several new board members. It will be important to maximize board relations toward productivity.
Economic growth: “A vibrant progressive economy is possible in Juan de Fuca. Our area and priorities have and will continue to change as we approach 2020. Historically, our economy in the JdF has largely relied on a few industries. Logging used to drive our economy, yet machinery and technology have drastically replaced the need for mass manpower. Mining and fishing continue to contribute our economy yet are both under constant pressure as society shifts towards environmental protection. Agriculture used to shape the land and for many is now seen as murals of a time past. There is potential in rejuvenating these industries on a small scale. By allowing individuals to access the resources and provide incentives for synchronization with large industries we open the door to a thriving small business economy.
“The future has been knocking on our doors for some time now, and it is due time we answered and welcomed the potential our community has. Tourism will play a major role in our future economy and many could benefit from the cash infusion. Tourism opportunities would benefit everyone from B&B owners to retail workers. As staples of a new age economy there are also ethanol and bio-fuel production using bio-waste; recycling for commercial gain; composting; online businesses; renewable energy product manufacturing; and small scale sea-salt production.”
“Silently many of us our struggling with debt and a high-cost of living. It’s time to do more to provide people with the legislative tools for success,” says Yates.
Enhancing transportation efficiency in the region: That revolves around negotiating with BC Transit to increase service to our community. Years ago it took an arduous effort to get the limited service we have out to the Otter Point and East Sooke districts. Service has stagnated for a decade which discourages residents from using public transportation. It’s time to resume the pressure we once placed on BC Transit. Our growing region has more leverage to negotiate better availability. To facilitate transportation as a distant and isolated region we can also car share and bike share and organize a community shuttle bus.”
Whether or not Yates wins the regional directorship of Juan de Fuca on October 20, this sounds like a resident who has bigger plans for his home region.