Building A Stronger, Healthy Community, Together
What you can expect from me as a councillor
This past term, I have worked tirelessly to tackle the many challenges faced by our community. We need leaders who are willing to make bold, thoughtful decisions today so future generations inherit a stronger community and a more equitable and stable world.
I believe councillors should be proactive leaders who make well-informed decisions to improve the overall well-being of the community today and into the future. A councillor must connect with a diversity of people to better understand the challenges they are facing, especially people who may not have the time, resources, or ability to participate through traditional channels.
This is one reason why I helped launch the Student Youth Council pilot project, in partnership with local high schools, to meet young people where they are and hear their priorities on their terms. I will work to make this a permanent advisory committee that has the same level of support from the District as our existing advisory committees. I also hold regular weekly office hours at a local Saanich cafe, where anyone can sign up and have a face-to-face chat about the issues that matter to them, something I will continue into the future.
I bring my extensive background in research to council and I take an evidence-based approach to decision making. Learning from research in fields like urban planning, and from other municipalities’ successes, and metrics like vacancy rates, tree canopy coverage, and population projections has immense value in helping us prioritize limited resources.
I also believe in empowering community members to make a difference in their own neighbourhoods. Sometimes that looks like helping people navigate the complexities of local government; sometimes it’s filling a policy gap; and sometimes it’s bringing neighbours together. Working in cooperation with residents and local advocates, I regularly bring community concerns forward to council, including pushing for menstrual equity, advocating for people with unseen disabilities, and presenting options for tackling noise pollution.
Diversifying and increasing the housing supply
We’ve made progress towards tackling the housing crisis this term, but too many people are still struggling with high rents and few options when they need a home. Nobody should have to live in their car, bounce from couch to couch, or sleep on the street because housing is tied to market forces. How we respond to the housing crisis fundamentally changes when we recognize housing as a right, rather than a commodity. This is why I led efforts to urge the province to recognize housing as a human right. It is also why I supported the District’s Rapid Deployment of Non-Market Housing Program and will continue to prioritize below-market, supportive, and community-oriented housing.
When it comes to planning our community for the future, my focus is on increasing the number of homes in the right places, with a mix of housing types, so that people can afford to live in and stay in our community. Whether your family is growing, you want to downsize while staying in the community you love, or you’re just starting out, everyone needs housing options that meet their needs. This will also help us attract the people we need to fill critical roles in our community, such as health care professionals.
Wherever possible, we should focus on encouraging new developments close to transit and amenities. This makes it more convenient for residents to use transit or active transportation to get where they need to go. It also creates the density needed to proceed with transit improvements, such as rapid buses and more frequent service. I’m very supportive of mixed-use developments, which can bring new amenities like clinics, childcare facilities, new local businesses, or community gathering spaces.
There is room for all types of housing in Saanich, and we can grow wisely, while working to make sure our urban forest, our parks network, natural areas, and farmlands are strong and thriving. This means fully funding the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Urban Forest Strategy, respecting the urban containment boundary, and building up our Parkland Acquisition Fund.
Safe and affordable transportation options
At all times, but especially in a cost of living crisis, it’s our responsibility to make sure transit is fast, frequent, accessible, and reliable, and active transportation is safe, convenient, and connected, so people have real options when it comes to getting around.
Transportation can be expensive, with Stats Canada estimating that the average Canadian household spends ~$12,090 per year on transportation, and some estimates for Saanich suggesting that the average annual vehicle cost for Saanich households could be as high as $28,344 (pg 35). A private vehicle is by far the most expensive form of transportation compared to transit and active transportation. And when more people are able to turn to transit and active transportation, it means fewer cars on the road, which eases traffic for those who need to drive for work, to operate their businesses, or for accessibility.
This past term, I led efforts to urge the Province to make transit free for youth aged 13-18 and seniors. I will continue to work with local advocates, BC Transit, and other levels of government to improve the quality, reliability, accessibility, and affordability of public transit.
I have been a consistent voice on council in support of road safety and active transportation and I live these values as well: our household has been happily car-free for a decade. I'm supportive of road designs and measures that have been shown to increase safety and convenience for road users, such as separated cycling infrastructure, safe pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, and good wayfinding signage. Saanich has promising Active Transportation and Road Safety Action Plans that touch on all of these elements. I will continue to advocate for fully funding and accelerating these plans so we don’t have to wait decades for the street improvements our communities need now. I will also work to shift our Traffic Calming Policy into a permanent program and expand the number of projects we can do in a year.
Supporting strong, healthy communities
Strong communities don't happen by accident; they are created and sustained by the effort of people working together. They require welcoming public spaces, easy access to health services, opportunities for connection and creativity, and healthy natural systems.
The services our District provides are critical to our well-being and that of our community: libraries where we learn, recreation centres where we nurture our health, or the infrastructure that protects our clean drinking water. Making sure these resources, and the staff who maintain them, are well supported is something I will continue to champion. I am always looking for ways to make municipal spaces more inclusive and accessible, and will continue to work with local advocates to ensure that Saanich is welcoming to all.
Healthcare is another incredibly vital service that people rely on at all stages of life. I know the struggle of not having a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner, or waiting on hold at clinics only to find there are no more appointments. Local governments have a role to play in tackling the primary healthcare shortage. Working with local citizens through Family Doctors for Saanich and local non-profit health care providers, I’ve begun to explore ways Saanich might be able to encourage better access to healthcare services for our residents. One example of this was when I led efforts to encourage the addition of new clinic spaces when we build new housing in the District. I will continue to champion a wide range of strategies to get more people attached to primary care providers.
When people take an active role in caring for their neighbours, or organize events that create connections, or beautify their communities with placemaking, art, or gardens, the District should be there to support them. We should lower barriers to encourage the organization of more community activities and events, support projects with micro-grants, and fill in policy gaps where necessary. This is why I spearheaded the development of Saanich’s Street Mural Guidelines, and supported a new grants policy to make sure insurance costs aren’t a barrier to large community events like the Gorge Canada Day Picnic.
As someone who has worked in conservation for over 20 years, I know there is nothing more important than having a healthy, flourishing environment that supports local biodiversity, which in turn supports us. Nature helps protect us from the impacts of climate change, such as flooding and extreme heat. Access to the outdoors is vital for mental health, and is a big part of our identity in Saanich. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to support the health of natural areas like Swan Lake, PKOLS, and Panama Flats, and to address issues with the necessary funding and policies. This term I advocated for fully funding the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Urban Forest Strategy, and I will continue to do so in my next term.