It's not yet. If the Esquimalt says no to the Mcloughlin rezoning as the result of the public hearings, CRD will (as matter fact, they already did it before Esquimalt finishs the public hearing process) go to provincial government to ask for help. The provincial government could overrule the Esquimalt and enforce the rezoning, but I doubt that would happen under current circumstance because of the huge cry from the public against this "shit plan".
I hope that provincial government will advise CRD to delay the project, and revisit the plan and ask CRD to their diligent them to do some research and assessment first.