Councillor deems counter-petition process to force the City to hold a referendum on whether or not to borrow money to replace the bridge a "waste of time." Photo © VibrantVictoria.ca.

The 45-day Johnson Street Bridge $42-million borrowing counter-petition process has reached it’s 23rd day and effectively marks the half-way point for residents to add their names to the list to force the City of Victoria to poll residents over the issue.  Some 6,400 signatures will be required to force the City of Victoria to give residents the chance to vote on borrowing $42-million to replace the Johnson Street Bridge.

However, at least one councillor is not happy with the effort to gather signatures for the counter-petition and would rather see residents engaged in anti-homelessness initiatives.  At Thursday’s council meeting, Councillor Lynn Hunter was responding Councillor Geoff Young’s call for an end to the counter-petition process and to launch a referendum, when she made her position on referenda and the counter-petition known.  “Well-considered decisions come about only through the representative system, with people selected by their peers – we had an election just last year, and we were the ones that were selected – to make decisions on behalf for the of the public for the public,” Hunter said, alluding to the idea that once councillors are elected, their decisions require no further input from the community.  Ultimately Hunter suggests that canvassing for signatures is a waste of time and referenda are an affront to democracy.

Yule Heibel of JohnsonStreetBridge.org (JSB.org), one of the founding members of the organization spearheading the counter-petition process, was at the meeting and did not expect to hear an elected official downplay the democratic rights of constituents.  “I am shocked and appalled by Lynn Hunter’s statement,” Heibel said.  “For Lynn Hunter to say that canvassing for signatures is a waste of time in light of homelessness issues, particularly when nothing about homelessness is on the table at City Hall for residents to stand behind, is appalling.  This council was never elected with a bridge replacement as part of their platform.  How can a councillor say that because she [Hunter] was elected, that gives her the power to make unimpeded decisions on any issue?” Heibel added.

JSB.org is holding an event at the Cabin 12 eatery on Pandora Ave. at Government Street until 4PM today.  Counter-petition forms will be available for residents to sign and JSB.ORG representatives will be on hand to answer questions about the counter-petition process.

Meanwhile, City Hall is preparing a triple-bottom-line document to be released soon which will contain data that will help illustrate the case for replacement in lieu of refurbishment.

To stay up to date on the latest news and events about the Johnson Street Bridge replacement/refurbishment issue, refer to the VibrantVictoria.ca discussion forum’s Johnson Street Bridge threads here.

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Note: this article has been updated on Dec. 13.