One of the Sea to Sky Corridor's most outspoken politicians has announced he's not running in next year's election.
On Friday (Nov. 22), Maurice Freitag, Squamish Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) Area D director, announced his name won't be on next year's ballot. Closing in on the end of his first term, the Britannia Beach resident said he's frustrated with the politic workings of the regional district. When at the table, directors need to set aside their municipal hats for the greater good of the entire region. But that's not what Freitag said he has experienced.
The influence the municipalities have on the regional district overrides everything, he said.
The hunt for funding to deal with an aging dam upstream of Britannia Beach is the perfect case point, Freitag said. Freitag asked Sea to Sky municipalities for letters of support to replace the 97-year-old Tunnel Dam. While the Resort Municipality of Whistler compiled, the District of Squamish didn't.
If the dam breaks and washes out Highway 99, that impacts all the corridor's residents, he said. While municipalities do compete for provincial money, the project could spur commercial growth in Britannia, Freitag said. That, in turn, feeds tax dollars into the region, he added.
Transit is another topic that must be addressed regionally if it's to have a chance at succeeding, Freitag said. He believes the brakes are on any progress until directors set aside their local communities issues.
SLRD directors face the added challenge of distance when completing their tasks, Freitag said. His riding includes Britannia Beach, Furry Creek, Ring Creek, Pinecrest/Black Tusk and the Upper Squamish and Paradise valleys.
Then there's limited staffing at the district's office in Pemberton. As a result, area directors end up fielding questions from constituents that should be dealt by regional staff members, Freitag said.
While he plans to step out of the regional ring, Freitag said he's not done with politics. He said he open to throwing his hat into any level of government municipal, provincial and federal.
Freitag won his seat in 2011 with 85 votes. Retired dentist Bruce Bessie was second in a five-candidate race with 66 votes.
