Saanich votes down public drinking

Saanich council voted against allowing public drinking in some district parks without any discussion.

The motion to move forward with a threemonth pilot project to allow drinking from noon to 8 p.m. in 14 of the municipality’s parks was defeated in a 5-4 vote on its first reading. Council would normally discuss the topic on a second reading.

Councillors can also ask questions before the motion is moved to a first reading, but Coun. Colin Plant, who was first to speak, moved the motion and it was seconded by Coun. Ned Taylor.

Plant said he was surprised it didn’t pass to a second reading, because he can’t remember a time in his five years on council when council hasn’t voted to move past a first reading.

Council had a busy agenda and the motion was brought to councillors at nearly 11 p.m. Plant said he moved the motion because he wanted to move forward with the meeting at the late hour.

“There was a part of me that appreciated we had people who had clearly made up their minds and that they were not willing to entertain this bylaw even at a first reading,” he said.

Taylor raised concerns that councillors opposed the motion in a “rushed decision” before there was a chance to have a debate and ask questions of staff who prepared the report.

“For council to defeat it without even having any discussion whatsoever, I don’t think reflects good decision-making, and I would request that we could at least have some discussion on the matter and have the ability to ask staff questions,” he told council.

He said later it was “very unusual” to have zero discussion on a staff report.

Mayor Fred Haynes, who had previously expressed support for the idea but ultimately voted against it, asked municipal clerk Angela Bains to weigh in on the possibility of having a debate despite the motion’s defeat. Bains said the opportunity for discussion had passed.

Haynes said he appreciated Taylor’s concerns, but could not see a way to address them.

Taylor later asked council to consider referring the motion to the parks, trails and recreation advisory committee for feedback, a move seconded by Coun. Zac de Vries.

“I have had numerous members of the committee raise this to me as an item of interest far before this item came forward from staff and long before the impacts of COVID-19 took place,” he said.

Saanich police voiced their opposition, citing concerns about increased calls for service arising from conflicts and reduced compliance with physical distancing.

Victoria Times Colonist