According to the CRD director for Juan de Fuca residents are being discriminated against in a dispute resolution process, and he wants the premier to get involved.
Mike Hicks is trying to get reliable water service for various communities along the west coast of Vancouver Island, but says under the CRD process he was excluded from making submissions on his constituents' behalf.
Instead, one of those appointed to represent the Juan de Fuca's interests is Victoria Councillor Ben Isitt who has publicly stated the area should not receive piped water as it could contribute to urban sprawl.
Hicks says despite many of Isitt's attributes, he is not the one to represent the Juan de Fuca:
"It's totally biased. Director Isitt -- who I totally respect -- he's a great debater, he's a great powerful guy that, you know, is a friend of mine, he's going to represent the CRD's position. And his position is we don't get water. It's totally wrong. It's absolute insanity."
Hicks wants the premier to dissolve the mediation process as it's discriminatory to Juan de Fuca residents:
"This issue, water, basic water. And you know, I feel just very strongly that we should have an equal opportunity to argue our case as a municipality. And we're not getting it. And that's all I'm asking for. So I've asked the premier to step in and dissolve the mediation because that's just a waste of time."
Hicks argues it's ridiculous directors living in urban areas will be allowed to argue against providing water to the Juan de Fuca, when the area that Greater Victoria gets its water supply from is the watershed of Juan de Fuca.