An Example Of Why I Advocate Electing A New Duncan Council With A Majority Of Members Who Are Duncan Taxpayers

I have advocated that Duncan voters elect a Duncan Council with a majority of Council members who are Duncan residents and taxpayers. Here is an example of why I advocate that.

During the term of the 2022-2026 Duncan Council, the Duncan Fire Chief proposed the purchase of the Ford F-150 Lightning pictured above, at a cost of $100,000, so the Deputy Fire Chief would have a vehicle to drive to fires. This vehicle apparently has no other firefighting purpose.

The Duncan Fire Chief made this proposal in person at a Duncan Council meeting.

At the same Council meeting, the City of Duncan senior management, specifically CAO Peter de Verteuil and Director of Finance Bernice Crossman (both of whom are residents of North Cowichan and not Duncan taxpayers) recommended to Duncan Council that $100,000 be taken from a fund the City maintains for vehicle purchases in order purchase this Ford F-150 Lightning. Peter de Verteuil and Bernice Crossman also advocated that taxes be increased in order to replace the $100,000 they proposed to spend.

The subsequent Council vote split between the minority on Council who are Duncan taxpayers and the majority of Council who are not Duncan taxpayers.

Voting in favour of the spending proposal and the accompanying tax increase were Councillor Tom Duncan and Jenni Capps (both of whom are Duncan residents but not Duncan taxpayers) along with Mayor Michelle Staples and Councillor Stacy Middlemiss (both of whom are North Cowichan residents and not Duncan taxpayers).

Voting against this new spending and the accompanying tax increase were Councillors Garry Bruce and Mike McKinlay (now Mayor elect), who are both Duncan taxpayers and residents. It should be noted that Councillor (now Mayor elect) Mike McKinlay used to be the Duncan Fire Chief and, accordingly, it is quite reasonable to assume that he knows far more about the Duncan Fire Department and its equipment requirements than most people do. Councillor McKinlay voted against this proposal.

Councillor Carol Newington, who is also a Duncan resident and taxpayer, was not present at this Council meeting and thus did not vote on this proposal.

So here we have a clear cut case of Council members who are Duncan taxpayers voting against a spending proposal with a tax increase attached while the majority on Council who are not Duncan taxpayers voting in favour of a spending proposal and a tax increase which does not directly affect them.

I consider this a prime example of why it is important to a new Council on which the majority of members are Duncan resident AND taxpayers who are directly affected by any tax increase or new tax they vote to enact.