Don’t make a charade of seeking input

Re: “Parkland levy could get bigger role,” Nov. 16.

While it’s laudable that the Capital Regional District would seek input regarding how it collects and spends funds, does it make sense that the options offered range only from the status quo to vast expansion of the use of such funds? If options are solicited regarding a levy, one option should be to not collect the levy at all.

If postcards are going to be mailed to a sample of residents soliciting input on such a survey, would it be cost-prohibitive to mail all residents a postcard soliciting such input?

Assuming a CRD population of roughly 383,360, the 2016 survey’s 1,256 respondents provided a lacklustre “representative” sample of 0.3 per cent, and 23 per cent of those did not even bother to offer an opinion. Hardly a resounding “yea.”

Or is it perhaps simply a case of Coun. Ben Isitt and the other politicians on the CRD parks committee realizing they’ve neglected such a useful, quiet, extra source of funds that this levy represents? Have they then proceeded to begin scheming about how that much cash could possibly be burned through in a hurry coming into an election year?

If the tasks that the committee is seeking to complete are properly within the purview of the CRD, then budget for and spend the money in the normal course of business. To waste time going through a charade of “seeking input” to support a pre-determined output is disingenuous.

Whitey Mitchell Saanich