Re: Good intentions paved defeat (Letters, Nov. 26)
Gordon Pollard’s patronizing eulogy deserves a rethink.
While Mayor Dean Fortin finessed a new and much needed policing agreement with Esquimalt, Pollard attempts to blame him with for the failure of a regional sewage deal. Clearly, these complex negotiations died when Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins made the politically opportunistic calculation to kill them.
Pollard’s bridge story is equally simplistic. Fortin made a rare and brave choice six years ago. He invested in Victoria’s infrastructure.
The politically expedient thing would have been to “kick the ball down the road” for some future council to pick up, when its replacement cost would have been even higher.
Fortin negotiated $37.5 million from the federal government; this ensured the costs to local citizens remained static.
Victoria has undergone a building boom in the last six years. More than 300,000 new square feet of commercial space has been built.
The city is more vibrant, commercially active and considerably greener as a result. All the while, crime and homelessness are both significantly lower. Parks are better. Cycling is better. Festivals are better. And, lastly, the city’s finances are better.
Fortin worked hard. His intentions were good. But please, let’s judge him on his results.
Dan Reeve, Victoria