Dear Editor,

Gisele Rudischer does not deserve the taxpayer-paid privilege of flying around the island in the RDN’s electric car.

Her commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions appears to be nil while serving as RDN Director. Lots of talk and no action. In the waning days of her reign as Gabriola’s representative at the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) she turned down flat a bus service for this island. And previously as LTC member she pooh-poohed the idea of disposing of yard waste on the island, which would have avoided many trips to the Cedar landfill.

Ms. Rudischer touted the benefits of the RDN’s rebate programs.

We have transformed what was effectively a clearcut lot back into forest, planting over 300 trees, shrubs and plants of both native and non-native varieties. We have one cistern and a pond, both collecting roof water for garden watering. And another cistern collecting roof water for toilet flushing. We got no rebates for those.

We installed low-flush toilets before the rebate program came in, and were told that we were not eligible because the program was not retroactive. When we installed another low-flush toilet, we were told the rebate program had ended, only to find later that had been extended. When we inquired about a rebate, we were told that the toilet had been installed between the time of the program ending and the time it was renewed, so again it was ineligible. What a circus!

As a follow-up to Rick Mitchell’s excellent letter in The Shingle, we would like to know just how the decision was made to quash the bus service. And why. And for our current RDN representative, Mr. Houle, the same questions apply.

Thanks Bruce and Russ. Actually the electric car was loaned to Trustee Sheila Malcolmson by car sales company Forever Green for a week as a demo, although Trustee Rudischer did ride in it during the Fall Fair parade.

As for a bus service on this island, there was none to turn down. A couple of studies on this issue were conducted, but unfortunately neither asked Gabriolans whether they were willing to pay for a bus system. Rudischer did however, ask RDN staff to do a feasibility study regarding bus services. Regional Director Howard Houle speaks a bit to that, and to Mitchell’s letter above.

RDN staff are the ones who make the decisions about how the rebate programs are rolled out.

Finally, while we recognise public figures should expect to take a bit of guff when in office, we also remind those who submit material for publication  to focus on the facts, and avoid personal invective. ~ Ed