No Nose Holding

The trouble with partisan politics is the suspension of critical thought. 

Political campaigns are orchestrated to portray candidates as people who do not make errors in judgment, break promises, or dally with transparency.  Part of that means holding one’s nose and not asking the hard questions in the interest of promoting what is seen to be the side of good. 

As we move closer to the November elections there will be an ever stronger inclination to suppress issues at the expense of rational discussion.  We cannot shy away from grey in the interest of black and white.

Take for example the state of agriculture in the District of North Saanich.  

On the one hand there has been the news this week of the potential acquisition of Sandown.  The placing of 83 acres into public hands holds the promise of a substantive agricultural legacy. 

Potentially very good news. 

The not so good news is the decision by  the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Commission to use bio-solids on farmland.

What makes this decision particularly stinky is that it has been made in the absence of either public and/or Council input. There hangs in the balance unanswered questions.  What are the health risks?  What is the environmental impact?  What is the scientific methodology that has been used to assess the risks and benefits to both health and the environment?

As we enter the crazy campaign season our plan is not to hold our noses when it comes to surfacing issues and talking about them.