Preparing North Cowichan for What's Next

North Cowichan is at an important crossroads. The decisions we make over the next few years will shape our community for the next decade and beyond.

For generations, North Cowichan benefited from the tax revenue generated by the Crofton Mill.  As that revenue declines, we're being forced to confront a reality that has been building for years.  We haven't adequately prepared for the broad-based tax revenue (versus homeowner property taxes taking so much of the burden) and infrastructure investments our community needs now.

One of our biggest challenges is aging infrastructure... roads, water, sewer, and other essential services. Perhaps you’ve seen CAO Ted Swabey’s comments… that he’s not seen infrastructure needs at this level during his decades in municipal leadership.  

Our municipality is facing an unprecedented infrastructure challenge where development demands are rapidly outstripping system capacities. Without planning and investing ahead of growth, we end up limiting our own future with things like no-build covenants and development bottlenecks like insufficient water servicing.

And infrastructure isn't our only challenge. Last year's Deloitte Economic Development Action Plan delivered another difficult message. It found that North Cowichan has developed a reputation for not being business-friendly and for not being ready to attract new industrial employers.

Deloitte’s Strategic Priority #1 for North Cowichan: Building a more supportive, efficient, and welcoming climate for all business will help both the attraction and retention of investment and employment.

I'll be honest... this should concern every one of us. It sends the message that North Cowichan is not just effectively unwelcoming of growth… but more concerned about many other things ahead of economic development.  

At a time when North Cowichan faces significant infrastructure and financial challenges, economic development shouldn't be an occasional discussion.

It should be a year-round priority with clear leadership, accountability, and measurable results.

Growth is coming. New hospital with a near-doubling of its staff. New high school. New RCMP building. Everyone knows growth is coming… yet here we find ourselves unprepared for it.

I don't believe ‘business & growth unfriendly’ is who we truly are. And I don't believe that's the future most residents want.

Our identity as a community is changing in real time.  If we don’t curate it with intention and hard decisions, we’re going to keep getting what the last several years of direction have produced... Under-preparedness and skyrocketing homeowner property taxes.

We need leadership that plans ahead instead of reacting to problems after they arrive, invests wisely before problems become crises, welcomes responsible business and industry, and broadens our tax base so homeowners aren't expected to carry more and more of the load.

That's how we protect what makes North Cowichan special while building a community that our children and grandchildren can afford to call home.

If you're interested in getting involved with the campaign, there are several ways you can help: from sharing social media posts to hosting a kitchen table talk to making a monetary donation. Click here to learn more.