Environment Minister Mary Polak has made the following statement today:

“On April 9, 2014, I received a letter from the Capital Regional District requesting the Province intervene to resolve zoning issues that the CRD asserts are preventing the construction of the McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in Esquimalt.

“After giving the request due consideration, the Province will not attempt to override the zoning decisions of the duly elected Esquimalt council.

“While I appreciate the timelines the CRD is working under to implement secondary sewage treatment, in order to meet its obligations to both the provincial and federal governments, I fully expect the CRD to comply with its Liquid Waste Management Plan.

“I don’t underestimate the challenges of achieving agreement on significant infrastructure projects in this region. However, recognizing the relative autonomy of locally elected governments, and their accountability to the citizens and taxpayers they serve, is a principle our government respects and supports. How locally elected municipal officials in this region achieve consensus on sewage treatment logistics is not something for the provincial government to dictate.

“Staff from the Ministry of Environment are available to continue working with the CRD to help them achieve compliance with secondary sewage requirements.”

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834