As you likely know, there is a municipal election on 15 October. There is an abundance of candidates, three for Mayor and 13 for the six positions of Councillor. Three Councillors are running again as noted in the table below. In addition, Former Councillor Weisenberger, now a resident of Sidney, is one of the Mayoral candidates.
Candidates
BORDEN |
Nancy |
Mayor |
JONES |
Peter |
Mayor |
WEISENBERGER |
Murray |
Mayor |
|
|
|
DIBATTISTA |
Phil |
Councillor |
GIESBRECHT |
Erin |
Councillor |
KEEPING |
Tara |
Councillor |
* MCCLINTOCK |
Jack |
Councillor |
MCCONKEY |
Irene |
Councillor |
MIKKELSEN |
Morgan |
Councillor |
RENNISON |
Jon |
Councillor |
ROLPH |
Terrie |
Councillor |
Sanjiv |
|
Councillor |
* SMYTH |
Brett |
Councillor |
* STOCK |
Celia |
Councillor |
TSE-COTTON |
Maya |
Councillor |
VARASTEH |
Majid |
Councillor |
* = incumbent
Key Voting Dates. All voting is at the Municipal Hall on Mills Rd.
Advance voting day #1 |
8:00 am to 8:00 pm |
Wednesday |
October 5 |
Advance voting day #2 |
8:00 am to 8:00 pm |
Wednesday |
October 12 |
General voting day |
8:00 am to 8:00 pm |
Saturday |
October 15 |
Date |
Location |
Time |
Sponsor |
26 Sept 2022 |
Mary Winspear Centre |
6:30 pm |
Black Press and Mary Winspear Centre |
28 Sept 2022 |
Presbyterian Church |
7:00 pm |
North Saanich Residents Association |
Issues
In this election a major issue, perhaps the main one, will be the Official Community Plan
review. That process has been grinding along for over two years, has consumed over $400,000 and is not yet done. A draft OCP will be in the hands of the next Council early in their term. The review process and many of the recommendations have often been contentious, leading to a serious rift between the Mayor and some of the Councillors and many of the residents. Councillors Stock and McClintock have been much more inclined to listen to the feedback from residents, and often question the Staff recommendations regarding the draft OCP. Councillors Weisenberger and Smyth have consistently voted to move the process and its controversial proposals forward.
The disagreements primarily stem from a decidedly urbanization focus for a community that is both officially and philosophically rural. The Regional Growth Strategy of the Capital Regional District, of which North Saanich is a signatory, designates North Saanich as a rural/rural-residential municipality. The RGS directs growth within the CRD to the already urban areas, outside of North Saanich. This sound planning policy makes efficient use of public transport while helping to mitigate climate change pressures. This plan was agreed to by all 13-member municipalities. Extensive survey results (and logic) indicate that the majority of residents support our rural designation too.
(For a better understanding of this critically important land-use plan and other important issues for this election, see the OCP and related pages and postings on this website.)
The previous Mayor and Council ran out of time to finish the OCP review process, yet, against the advice of many, they elected to leave a finished draft OCP for the next governing group. It will be challenging for the new council to assess the merits of something they had no hand in designing or funding.
Tied into the OCP review, but given scant attention for the most part, are issues concerning support for agriculture, food security, the marine environment and climate change mitigation.
In this election there is an unprecedented amount at stake concerning the future of our Municipality. The proposals that will be put forward in the new draft OCP, if they go ahead, will open a Pandora’s Box of big changes for most neighbourhoods in North Saanich. Some will happen pretty quickly. Others will be the natural consequence of introducing urban densities to a rural/rural-residential area – they inevitably creep and sprawl, as we have seen again and again and again.
Voters should give careful consideration to the implications of candidates’ positions. What will their priorities mean for the future of this unique place? For residents’ quality of life? For why you chose this place to call home?
North Saanich Community Voices will be following the campaign. Please forward this message to those who may be interested, and, if you haven’t already, sign up on our website (nscv.ca) for updates.
Recent world events have shone a brighter light on food security, climate change and land use planning. Residents are urged to carefully consider these issues and the positions of the candidates when deciding how to vote on October 15.
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