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Water deal made hastily

Council moved precipitously on this significant issue despite the lack of either a clear business plan or a regional government framework.

To the Editor,

Re: Nanaimo councillors approve water deal, Feb. 27.

Once again, council moved precipitously on this significant issue despite the lack of either a clear business plan or a regional government framework.

Staff’s report contained insufficient evidence to permit a rational business decision to be made on public policy. Due diligence was not available to anyone involved: another shameful rush to questionable judgment which leaves Nanaimo open to similar requests for water from other neighbouring water-poor areas while they and the province point to this agreement as a precedent.

I am not against a shared water system. I just want to be crystal clear about what water, when, with whom, under what circumstances and at what cost. Water may be a human right, but there is a substantial difference of opinion about what this means in the real world.

The interests of Lantzville and its developers were well-served last night by Nanaimo’s council. Whether Nanaimo’s interests were well-served remains to be seen.

Ron BolinNanaimo