Editor:
It’s been said, “Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.” Such is the case with Tom Clelland’s letter (“Blatant misinformation”) from last week. In his words, “Sechelt is thriving under the current administration. Building permits were $43 million in 2017 compared to $23 million in 2013.”
What Mr. Clelland has conveniently neglected to recognize is that the increase in permits is as a result of the real estate boom, not the current administration. Unless you have been completely without access to TV and newspapers, you will know that the Lower Mainland has been experiencing a real estate boom these past three years, which is, coincidentally, three of the three-and-a-half years that the current mayor and council have been dithering in office. This boom has enabled people to cash out and move away from the Lower Mainland, with many of them choosing the Sunshine Coast. Hence the increase in building permits for single-family homes.
Sky-high prices have also caused many developers to recognize a business opportunity, which explains the increase in permits for multi-family developments.
The SCRD has also seen a substantial increase in building permits (from $38 million in 2013 to $64.9 million in 2017) and I suspect that Gibsons has too. Perhaps Mr. Clelland wants to give credit to Sechelt’s current administration for those increases also?
Carolyn Minchin, Sechelt
