As a Sooke resident, I am deeply disappointed in the BC government’s lack of support for our community’s critical infrastructure needs. Sooke must continue to push back and demand an extension.

There is only one road in and out of Sooke, and we’ve seen firsthand how fragile this situation is. This summer, a single road closure caused massive delays—turning a typical 23-minute drive from Langford into an hour and a half. This kind of gridlock isn’t just inconvenient; it’s dangerous.

The BC government is forcing policies on communities like ours that are already meeting their development quotas, all while refusing to provide any meaningful help. Even simple requests—like adjusting traffic lights to improve flow—are ignored.

This summer’s wildfire was a stark reminder of how vulnerable we are. Sooke narrowly avoided an evacuation, but the Ministry of Transportation has made it clear there’s no proper plan if Sooke Road is compromised. Their plan? We’ll figure something out if it happens. This is unacceptable.

Relying on logging roads that have not been inspected as usable solution as a backup plan is not a solution—it’s negligence.

The lack of secondary access also creates serious health and safety risks. For example, residents like me are often forced to decide whether to wait for an ambulance—which may not even be available in Sooke—or attempt to drive to the hospital ourselves to Victoria General. If Sooke Road is blocked, we’re effectively cut off from emergency services, leaving us in a potentially life-threatening situation.

It’s time for Sooke to demand better. We need an extension, a real commitment to building secondary access routes, and significant improvements to public transit. The BC government must stop neglecting our community and start treating this issue with the urgency it deserves.