By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo’s mayor has full UBCM agenda

Sep 26, 2016 | 10:06 AM

NANAIMO — Nanaimo’s mayor sees solid waste as a key discussion point along with a pile of other regional issues at this week’s Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention in Victoria.

Bill McKay says Nanaimo could play a central role for surrounding communities on a range of waste processing options.

He notes that solid waste projects are large financial commitments which are best suited when multiple local governments work together.

“Whether it be a landfill, or whether it be a transportation network, or whether it be a sophisticated sorting facility to be able to send off elsewhere. But I think we need to start pooling resources,” said McKay.

McKay says Nanaimo’s central location makes the city a natural fit for initiatives such as plastics recycling and a wood processing plant.

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Other study sessions and networking opportunities will go ahead on housing affordability, homelessness, and drug overdoses, according to McKay.

“I also want to have a lot of discussions about the affordability of housing. They are going through that in the Lower Mainland as you well know, but I think it’s only just a short matter of time before it hits Vancouver Island, particularly Nanaimo.”

McKay says the UBCM is a great opportunity to learn lessons from other communities, adding that Nanaimo is in a position to share knowledge on social housing.

He says the city’s low-barrier housing work geared toward the homeless and hard to house is renowned around B.C.

“We’re a leader in that area, and I want to be able to share some of our stories and some of our successes with other communities, as well as determine what plans we might have moving forward.”

McKay expects zoning and licensing regulations for marijuana dispensaries will be another hot topic of discussion.