Esquimalt's mayor wants to sit down with the Capital Regional District and discuss a way forward for McLoughlin Point's wastewater treatment plant, now that B.C.'s environment minister has chosen to stay out of the debate.
On Monday, Esquimalt council rejected a rezoning request from the CRD for McLoughlin Point and instead passed its own bylaw. The township wants the CRD to pay $55,000 a year to an amenity fund and barge all of its construction materials to the site, among other amenity requests.
"We all have concerns about this whole process, but we have left the door open for discussion with CRD and if they're willing to take a look at the possibilities, we would welcome the discussion," said Mayor Barb Desjardins. "For the province to intercede at this point, it would be premature."
On Tuesday, Environment Minister Mary Polak said she hopes both the CRD and Esquimalt resolve the controversy between themselves.
"The idea of intervening in a matter that should be solved at a local level is not something we take very lightly," Polak said.