Marie-Térèse Little ready to take on Metchosin

Mayor-elect Marie-Térèse Little is about to take the helm in Metchosin, stepping in for retired mayor John Ranns. There has been a “seismic shift” across Westshore political leadership, Little observed, adding that she sees the transition from Ranns to herself as part of it—not so much for the policy they promote (both are committed to a rural Metchosin) but for their differing leadership styles.

Little’s primary campaign promise was for accountable governance. She pledged to only use in-camera meetings when necessary, saying she felt they had been overly relied on by Ranns.

Her new council will meet Monday for the first time, including one re-elected councillor Sharie Epp, and three new councillors: Shelly Donaldson, Steve Gray, and Jay Shukin. The agenda consists mostly of the swearing in, but will also include a motion to implement a code of conduct.

“All of us have committed to move forward with transparency, openness, and accountability,” she said. “Most of all, I am asking the council to come to the table with humility.”

Setting the stage for a council that debates respectfully and understands diversity could help Little guide the upcoming debate around housing capacity in Metchosin in a more peaceful way. Previous councils navigated a debate around secondary suites, and implemented a bylaw to allow them about 10 years ago. That debate nearly tore Metchosin in two.

Earlier this year, a proposal to allow mobile tiny homes on properties was raised as a potential solution to the dire lack of housing. Just the first mention of it in council brought a dozen speakers to the next meeting, with passionate views. That discussion was tabled for this council to pick up.

Finances and connectivity key issues

As a small community that’s determined to stay rural, Metchosin has limited municipal income. But since its population crested 5,000 people there’s a major bill coming due: Metchosin is now responsible to pay for 70% of its policing costs, estimated at $1.1 million annually. Little hasn’t proposed a concrete solution to cover that expense, but indicated during the election campaign she would look toward cutting some contracted expenses she felt weren’t necessary. Metchosin has more than enough in reserve to pay the first few years, but the police budget is likely to be one of the first major topics the new council tackles.

One of Little’s three platform focuses is sustainable agriculture and supporting Metchosin’s farmers. But while door knocking throughout the campaign, she learned she was missing a key segment: small business owners. The first thing she knows they need is better connectivity.

Metchosin has a lot of dead zones for cell phones, and areas where even the internet is slow. Some small business owners, she learned, have Canadian and American phone plans, because there isn’t a strong enough signal to conduct business on just Canadian networks. Instead of connecting to cell towers on the South Island, some Metchosinites have stronger signals from across the water in Port Angeles. A cell tower is partially under construction on Garibaldi Hill. It was supposed to be completed this summer, but has been delayed.