NEW VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL SWORN-IN
Dec 2, 2008
THE NEW VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL IS NOW IN PLACE, AFTER A SWEARING-IN CEREMONY AT CITY HALL THIS AFTERNOON.
MAYOR DEAN FORTIN AND EIGHT COUNCILORS TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE; AND THEN MAYOR DEAN FORTIN AND SEVEN COUNCILORS TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
COUNCIL NEWCOMER LYNN HUNTER DECLINED TO SWEAR ALLEGIANCE. SHE SAID AFTERWARD SHE HAS NO INTENTION OF MAKING AN ISSUE OF HER REFUSAL.
“NO, NOT AT ALL. I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HER MAJESTY, BUT I THINK IT’S AN ANACHRONISM. I THINK I SHOULD BE SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO THIS COUNTRY.”
NOT ALL MUNICIPALITIES INCLUDE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE IN THEIR CEREMONIES AT ALL. FOR INSTANCE THERE WAS NO MENTION OF IT IN SAANICH LAST NIGHT.
MEANWHILE, VICTORIA MAYOR DEAN FORTIN SAYS HIS COUNCIL FACES A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES, BUT HE SAYS ONE CLEARLY STANDS OUT FROM THE OTHERS.
“WE MUST FIND HOMES FOR THOSE WITHOUT. WE NEED TO LOOK HIGH AND LOW FOR LAND, BUILDINGS AND SERVICES, THAT CAN SUPPORT THOSE LIVING ON THE STREET. I HAVE A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAIUGHTER WHO KNOWS WHAT THE TERM ‘HOMELESSNESS’ MEANS. A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WRAP THEIR HEAD AROUND WHY SOME PEOPLE HAVE HOMES WHEN OTHERS DON’T”
THE MAYOR SAYS VICTORIANS MUST "LOOK IN THEIR OWN BACKYARDS AND OPEN OUR MINDS TO HAVING SUPPORTED HOUSING IN ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS".
- ADAM STIRLING / FMS
