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Saanich News

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Victoria Buzz, October 3, 2025

BC municipalities call on provincial government to declare housing a human right

At the recent Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention, held in Victoria, a resolution was passed that calls on the BC government to declare housing as a human right. 

The resolution was sponsored by the City of Langford, but had support from nine other municipalities, including Burnaby, Saanich, Langley, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, Port Moody, Richmond, Vancouver and Victoria.

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Oak Bay News, October 1, 2025

Saanich pushes for higher accessibility standards provincewide

The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) will call on the province to implement greater accessibility standards for future buildings, after a resolution put forward by Saanich council.

Resolution NR41 calls for incorporating the latest accessibility standards from the CSA Group and Accessibility Standards Canada into the B.C. Building Code, which will affect all buildings. It also calls for a commitment to achieving Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Gold on all new provincial buildings.

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Samantha's Newsletter, 

August 12, 2025

Noise cameras: Addressing vehicle noise pollution with smart technology

Some municipalities, including Port Moody, have expressed interest in implementing (or testing) technologies like noise and speed cameras to address local traffic concerns. However, they require provincial approval to proceed with such initiatives. Recently, Port Moody Council directed staff to proceed with a noise monitoring pilot. While this pilot will only measure sound levels from vehicle traffic, the data gathered will help inform future decisions and advocacy. 

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Times Colonist, June 12, 2025

Saanich pushes for B.C. to allow smaller elevators, among UBCM resolutions

Phelps Bondaroff was also behind the resolution to make housing a human right in B.C., something the federal government has already done, and that adds “urgency and responsibility” to ensuring access to affordable housing,” he said. As for the adoption of European elevator standards, Phelps Bondaroff said it would encourage installation of more elevators in new buildings, and broaden the market for elevator parts that are the global standard — also making them less expensive.

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Saanich News, June 11, 2025

Growing chorus of B.C. municipalities want housing declared a human right

"The goal of this resolution is to send a powerful message to the province that they need to step up and recognize housing as a human right," said Saanich Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff ahead at that city's council meeting on Monday. "The goal here is to have a multitude of voices from different types of municipalities from across the province all arriving at UBCM speaking as one."

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Times Colonist, June 5, 2025

Saanich seeks 30 km/h default limit for B.C. roads with no centre line

Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff added that reducing speeds reduces the likelihood and severity of accidents. “This is about keeping people safe on our roads,” he said. The request for a lower default speed limit has been made to the province a number of times over the years, but Mayor Dean Murdock said that’s no reason not to ask again.

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Times Colonist, Oct. 23, 2024

Saanich OKs $21M plan to improve road safety

Saanich council has adopted its new road safety plan, the first on Vancouver Island, which will cost $21 million over 10 years and sets a goal to eliminate fatal crashes. Council was unanimous in endorsing the plan, which has been just over two years in the making and stems from council’s adoption in February 2022 of Vision Zero, a goal to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities on roads.

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City News, Sept. 19, 2024

UBCM calls on expansion of free transit program for all high school students

As it stands, kids 12 and under can ride transit for free under the Get on Board program anywhere in B.C., but a resolution passed at the annual Union of BC Municipalities convention Thursday has called on the province to secure permanent funding to expand that to include high schoolers.

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CHEK News, March 20, 2024

Saanich to change parking requirements for new housing developments

On Monday, in an almost unanimous vote, councillors voted to lower the parking minimums for all forms of new builds and convert those minimums into maximums for certain-sized projects. “Reducing the need to build parking also reduces building expenses,” said Coun. Teale Phelps Bandaroff.

Bandaroff and Coun. Zac de Vries brought forward a policy framework for parking requirements.

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Times Colonist, June 8, 2023

District of Saanich to offer free period products in all public washrooms

“Period poverty is something that is a serious issue that we don’t talk about enough,” said Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, “My hope is that we inspire other districts and other actors to do the same thing... There’s a taboo and stigma around talking about menstruation in our society,” said Phelps Bondaroff, who is also the chair of AccessBC which successfully advocated for free prescription contraception in the province. “Having a little box with menstrual products in the washroom …. it could make someone’s day if they’re in need.”

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