Sewage project should also be reviewed

Re: “Region needs transport plan,” editorial, Oct. 18. There has been a political sea change since the governments of (B.C. Liberal) Gordon Campbell and (Conservative) Stephen Harper forced the capital region into an unnecessary and costly enhanced sewagetreatment project. The B.C. Liberals have been relegated to the opposition benches and the capital region’s own John Horgan is premier of a New Democratic government full of South Island ministers.

In addition, Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Andrew Weaver, as leader of the king-making Green Party, has attained an unprecedented level of prominence and influence. Meanwhile federally, Justin Trudeau, who campaigned in 2012 for the “anti-sewage treatment” Liberal candidate and the need for “science-based decision-making,” is now prime minister. It’s profoundly disappointing that none have moved to re-examine the need for enhanced treatment ordered by the two capital-region-adverse former governments.

B.C. Hydro’s Site C project is the subject of an independent review and so too should there be a review of the enhanced sewagetreatment requirement. The vast amount of public funds required for this unnecessary project should instead be applied to a regional rail transit system. Doing so would not only benefit the region by reducing commuting time and enhancing livability but the global environment as well by contributing to greenhouse-gas reduction. There is still time for political leadership on this issue. Dave Nonen Victoria