SC’IȺNEW and the Capital Regional District (CRD) collaborated to significantly lower the cost of SC’IȺNEW’s water supply, correcting a decades-old injustice that was inherited by the current CRD administration.
The CRD offers two different rates for water provision. The first-rate is the wholesale water rate, which is offered to cities and districts like the District of Saanich and the District of Oak Bay. Those taking advantage of this rate “determine their own ‘retail’ water rates to ensure sufficient funding to support the operation, maintenance, and safe delivery of drinking water through the distribution systems.”
The second is the retail water rate, which is generally charged to individual residents and businesses and includes the wholesale water rate plus additional costs incurred in the water distribution process. As of 2024, the wholesale rate was $0.8094 per cubic metre and the retail rate ranged from $1.50 to $2.70 per cubic metre.
When SC’IȺNEW connected to the CRD’s water system over four decades ago, SC’IȺNEW brought in all necessary infrastructure to make the connection and paid for eight kilometers of off-reserve water infrastructure. Since then, SC’IȺNEW has managed all water on reserve and independently managed all maintenance and necessary repairs to keep the system intact. However, the regional government at the time of connection failed to recognize SC’IȺNEW’s eligibility for wholesale pricing.
Recognizing this historic wrong, Ted Robbins – former General Manager of Integrated Water Services, CRD and current CRD CAO – and SC’IȺNEW joined forces six years ago to make things right. Now, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Robbins, SC’IȺNEW, the staff and Board of Directors of the CRD, former Mayor of Metchosin John Ranns, and Metchosin Councillor Kyara Kahakauwila over several years, SC’IȺNEW and the CRD have reached an agreement to convert SC’IȺNEW’s water access to wholesale pricing, resulting in significant savings for the community.
SC’IȺNEW and CRD memorialized the agreement in a signing on January 27th, 2025 at the Visitors Centre. The signing event included welcoming ceremony songs by SC’IȺNEW members and an opening prayer by Bruce Charles. Attendees also enjoyed native tacos for lunch.
This agreement has the potential to benefit not only SC’IȺNEW but also other First Nations communities. Even though most First Nations communities in the region manage their own water supply, SC’IȺNEW is the first to work with CRD to obtain wholesale pricing. SC’IȺNEW is hopeful its collaboration with CRD will be a model for other communities.
SC’IȺNEW is grateful to Robbins, Ranns, Kahakauwila, and others at the CRD for their assistance in righting a wrong that persisted for over forty years and looks forward to continued collaboration. To stay up to date on this story and other important news, be sure to subscribe to the SC’IȺNEW newsletter.
Recognizing this historic wrong, Ted Robbins – former General Manager of Integrated Water Services, CRD and current CRD CAO – and SC’IȺNEW joined forces six years ago to make things right. Now, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Robbins, SC’IȺNEW, the staff and Board of Directors of the CRD, former Mayor of Metchosin John Ranns, and Metchosin Councillor Kyara Kahakauwila over several years, SC’IȺNEW and the CRD have reached an agreement to convert SC’IȺNEW’s water access to wholesale pricing, resulting in significant savings for the community.
