I find it interesting during election coverage that television networks can project the winner with so little of the vote being counted. Most of the time, they are pretty accurate.
That's why I was a little surprised to see such a big shift in public opinion on the Southlands. Up to November last year, 77 per cent were opposed to the project. Between then and June 14, 51 per cent are now in favour. That is a turnaround of B.C. Liberal proportions.
I try and stay close to public sentiment on this issue, so I took a few moments to scan the external correspondence items on the municipal council agendas. I wasn't seeing a change of this magnitude in the letters being sent to council. In fact, I wasn't seeing a change in public opinion at all.
The summary of correspondence said there were 526 pieces, but I only saw about 100 online. I felt a little more research was required, so I stopped by the South Delta Recreation Centre to look through the binders of correspondence compiled by Delta staff. My son drags me to the skate park anyway, so I thought I might as well make good use of my time.
I looked through all the letters that had been sent - 123 of them. Opposed 76, supporting 19, general questions 25 (the numbers don't add up because there were a few duplicates). Another binder with 50 comment sheets showed 17 opposed, six for and nine general questions. I still wasn't seeing this major shift in opinion, but I was missing more than half of the total correspondence.
Some people write a letter and sign for multiple people. Some families send in individual notes. Some send two notes from the same email address and sign as different people. It's hard to tell what the actual numbers are, short of creating a database and removing duplicates.
Then they handed me the last binder, the comment sheets from the May 30 public information meeting. There were 344 comment sheets. Thankfully, there were also comfortable chairs at the rec centre.
I flipped through each one. Having scanned all those letters previously, I recognized a lot of names, some for, some against. I appreciated those people who came straight to the point. Some took a little more reading, but eventually stated their position.
A note from a little girl concerned about animals' houses and another from a young boy worried about frogs brought a smile to my face.
In the end, I counted 248 for the project, 87 against and nine general questions. So that's how we get to 51 per cent! Many of those who support the project like the housing styles and design. Many of those opposed stated that, yet again, they were voicing their opposition. I was a little surprised the majority of support came from a single event, where opposition has been steady, consistent and significant over time.
For council, however, this isn't a decision about building design, it's a decision about the community. Public feedback is important, which is why I'm glad we are going to a public hearing in late October.
I know the public will be there, let's hope there is a little hearing involved as well.
