Here, briefly, are a few of the problems experienced by Chemainus under the present non-representational system of municipal government:

• "Duncan" Pool
  In a referendum, Chemainiacs voted almost unanimously to reject building the pool. In fact, the motion was barely passed by the North Cowichan municipality as a whole. Yet construction of the pool went ahead the very next day, creating an enormous debt that we get to pay for--it's something we don't want, didn't ask for and won't use. There is nothing to prevent future administrations of North Cowichan from saddling us with higher taxes and huge debt against our wishes. Even if the Mayor resided in Chemainus, we are still outvoted.

• Waterfront
  We are a seaside community with virtually no access to the water. We have Kin Park, the boat launching ramp, a small marina, waterfront industry, and the locals know how to climb over the rocks to get around, but what do our visitors see?

• Creegan Drive
  There is a plan to potentially "develop" Echo Heights and connect Creegan Drive to the highway. Creegan Drive is a pleasant residential street which the municipality wants to turn into a major through-road, linking Chemainus to the Trans-Canada Highway. This new throughway will pass right through a school zone and along a quiet, residential street.

  The result would be to make N. E. Chemainus a "bedroom community" and funnel business away from Chemainus with devastating results for Chemainus business and Chemainus as a community.

• Attitude
  When approached about Chemainus Independence, the response from our government was "the Municipality owns considerable assets in the Chemainus area."   Never any discussion or concern about what the people of Chemainus want--just "We own..."   Perhaps they forget that part of the "We" is the people of Chemainus. We Chemainiacs own part of the municipal hall, the "Duncan" pool, and everything else in the Municipality right down to the pen the Mayor's secretary uses.

• Echo Heights
  The citizens of Chemainus have for many years used a piece of municipal land in the town (known as "Echo Heights") as a park. Without seeking the opinion of the people of Chemainus, the municipality has decided to proceed with a plan to develop the land as a housing development.

  In 1886, Vancouver's first City Council made a momentous decision--In 1887 Stanley Park was officially opened establishing the city's first official "greenspace". Do we today have that same vision for future generations? Once the bulldozers move in, the opportunity is lost forever. There is not now, nor in the foreseeable future, a pressing need for development in that area. The only "need" seems to be to enrich the "Duncan" coffers. It needs to be developed, enhanced and utilized, but as a park for everyone to use.