Do you live in Oak Bay?
Yes. My family has lived here for 75 years, I moved back from Vancouver with my Wife years 9 ago to raise my family (Son 7, Daughter 4).
Are you in favour of some form of amalgamation in the Capital Region?
I am not, but support asking residents and respecting their wishes. My reluctance stems from the fact I have been through enough private industry mergers to know how hard it is to realize the theoretical efficiencies, and local voices are diminished.
What is your vision for sewage treatment in Oak Bay?
Do you think speed limits should be lowered in high crash areas?
We have professional traffic engineers that provide expert advice on appropriate traffic controls. Traffic engineering should not be a political process.
Should mobility scooters be regulated?
No. At least not any version of regulation / licensing that I’ve heard proposed.
Is a deer cull necessary?
Yes. Government needs to fill the role of predator on these prey animals. Sidney Island had to kill 2,000 deer that were so starved they were thrown in a landfill. I support stabilizing the population and using the killed animals for food.
Should secondary suites be legalized?
See kevinmurdoch.ca for details, but yes, if the conditions identified in the OCP can be addressed (traffic, noise, compliance, etc.). Other jurisdictions have shown it is difficult to get people to legalize, enforcement is difficult, and costs go up for tenants, homeowners, and the municipality, so care must be taken.
Does Oak Bay need stronger noise bylaws?
No. Our bylaws strike a reasonable balance of respecting neighbours and allowing reasonable use of our own yards. They are also flexible enough to let common sense be applied.
Should Oak Bay allow more freedom for dogs?
No. I think the balance struck between dog-friendly and dog-free areas is pretty balanced right now.
Do you agree with the basic principles in the new OCP?
The general outline of the OCP is so aspirational and vague it’s hard to oppose. Sadly, it fails to provide guidance on development, so there is little to help the next Council weigh competing interests such as green space vs density. Much work now needs to be done in land-use bylaws.
Should council encourage more filming opportunities in Oak Bay?
Yes. Filming can co-exist in our community quite well and staff have learned a lot about how to manage the intrusions that come along. It is unlikely that we are going to see a large increase in filming, however.