The most contentious issue in Oak Bay is affordable housing.
Whether it is a faith-based community trying to fulfill their social obligations, or young people and the elderly looking for secondary suites, one chorus of voices is missing from the debate.
We hear a lot from existing residents who object to increased housing density, but we don’t hear from the people who need housing in Oak Bay. We can comfortably ignore their needs, because they are not ourfriends and neighbours.
These faceless and nameless people don’t have political influence. They don’t organize petitions, put up lawn signs, or crowd out public meetings. And they don’t vote in our elections, which provides the excuse for our political leaders to ignore their needs.
The needy are with us always, but they are not with us in Oak Bay.
Paul Blood
Oak Bay