11779 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

^ That is part of the problem. The bigger issue for higher profile candidates, especially those with local businesses or professional careers, is the cadre of socialist activists who threaten to "cancel" anyone they disagree with, Fake negative reviews on business websites, frivolous complaints and generally harassment ensure that those with standing to protect want to keep it that way.

[m3m]

The government street barricades are more substantial now.  Wood siding has been added to the cement blocks to create a more permanent look.  There are also picnic tables.

[Mike K.]

Please for the love of all that is holy someone snap a photo of this.

[GetLisaSomeHelps]

Once Victoria has a functional council and can demonstrate competent governance, it can begin to move forward on the issue of amalgamation, which in the long run is critical to solving the regional issues that are crippling our city. 

 

Been waiting the better part of my whole life for competent governance in the CRD as there should only be 3-4 municipalities in this region.

 

"Victoria": City of Victoria, District of Saanich, District of Oak Bay, Township of Esquimalt, Town of View Royal

"Westshore": City of Colwood, City of Langford, District of Metchosin, District of Sooke

"Peninsula": District of Central Saanich, Town of Sidney, District of North Saanich, Highlands District

 

Or something like that.

Edited by GetLisaSomeHelps, 10 June 2020 - 08:34 AM.

[Nparker]

Been waiting the better part of my whole life for competent governance in the CRD as there should only be 3-4 municipalities in this region.

 

"Victoria": City of Victoria, District of Saanich, District of Oak Bay, Township of Esquimalt, Town of View Royal

"Westshore": City of Colwood, City of Langford, District of Metchosin, District of Sooke

"Peninsula": District of Central Saanich, Town of Sidney, District of North Saanich, Highlands District

 

Or as I call them

• Core
• West Shore
• S'Nor (Saanich North)

[GetLisaSomeHelps]

Ask any developer and they'll tell you the differences in bylaws/administrative policies when dealing with planning & development/permit/engineering departments in Victoria vs Oak Bay vs Esquimalt vs Saanich causes them some of their biggest headaches.

Edited by GetLisaSomeHelps, 10 June 2020 - 08:56 AM.

[spanky123]

Ask any developer and they'll tell you the differences in bylaws/administrative policies when dealing with planning & development/permit/engineering departments in Victoria vs Oak Bay vs Esquimalt vs Saanich causes them some of their biggest headaches.

 

Some developers. 

[Casual Kev]

There's a lot to be dissatisfied with the current cohort of Councillors (excepting Geoff Young) - however, standing for council is an act of civic duty that comes with it a whole lot of baggage (which would be far less if they focused on engaging in good governance).  Sadly, seeing the amount of baggage results in fewer people being willing to engage and take on the civic duty. As a result, there's a cycle where the quality of councilor who is willing to stand for election gets worse over time.  The only cure is to convince people who have leadership experience to run and to work to get them elected - and hopefully enough of them so that once again some amount of good governance returns.  Once Victoria has a functional council and can demonstrate competent governance, it can begin to move forward on the issue of amalgamation, which in the long run is critical to solving the regional issues that are crippling our city. 

 

The "get a better council" argument as a pre-condition to amalgamation is little more than red herring. The ideology and perceived competence of the CoV has fluctuated substantially over the past 1-2 decades, yet the "study to decide whether Saanich and CoV will maybe consider the idea" is as close to amalgamation as we've ever been - even though the rest of Canada has seen a lot of it since the 90's. The process should involve other CRD municipalities and whatever amalgamated outcome we have, the elected city council will be fundamentally different (Saanich alone has more people than the CoV).

 

And the Lord knows how non-CoV residents love complaining about CoV problems, from downtown panhandlers to parking availability. You can't reject political participation in the affairs of the CoV to preserve your own political fiefdom, then proceed to complain about how CoV handles its affairs non-stop. The cities in the CRD are functionally inter-dependent, but lines on a map prevent them from being well-managed. 

[Mike K.]

The mayor provided the following bio for an upcoming panel discussion. I’m posting this here as it’s always good to get a sense of how a politician views her or his self.

Mayor Lisa Helps
Lisa Helps became the 52nd Mayor of Victoria when she was elected on November 15, 2014, and was sworn into office for her second term on November 1, 2018. Prior to being elected as Mayor, she served as a Victoria City Councillor for one term, from 2011 to 2014.

Mayor Helps works hard at City Hall and in the community to ensure that the city is prosperous, affordable, sustainable, and ready for the future. Taking a long-term, big-picture perspective, she looks both around the city and around the world for innovative solutions to the pressing challenges facing us including climate change, lack of affordable housing, and growing social isolation and loneliness, especially among youth and seniors.

Mayor Helps believes that the best way to address complex challenges is to bring people from a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences together and to truly listen to each other. In her experience, listening deeply with empathy and generosity and taking in new information can enable us to change our minds or at least to broaden our perspectives. She’s honoured to have been elected as Mayor of Victoria and to serve her community in this capacity.

[spanky123]

Mayor Helps believes that the best way to address complex challenges is to bring people from a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences together and to truly listen to each other. In her experience, listening deeply with empathy and generosity and taking in new information can enable us to change our minds or at least to broaden our perspectives. She’s honoured to have been elected as Mayor of Victoria and to serve her community in this capacity.

 

Love the part about diversity. As I pointed out yesterday, all of the Mayor's senior hires and promotions have been white women. 

[GetLisaSomeHelps]

Love the part about diversity. As I pointed out yesterday, all of the Mayor's senior hires and promotions have been white women. 

 

Maybe she thinks diversity means an old, old wooden ship.

Edited by GetLisaSomeHelps, 11 June 2020 - 06:56 AM.

[spanky123]

Maybe she thinks diversity means an old, old wooden ship.

 

What I don't get about her sudden interest in diversity for organizations other than her own is why people in those groups don't speak out about being lumped together simply by the colour of their skin. Isn't that in itself racist?

 

Are we to assume that because people who grew up in Africa have dark skin they must therefore have the same interests and life experiences as someone who grew up in the Caribbean or Southern US. Is it expected that someone who grew up in India would rather be represented in Government by someone who grew up in Pakistan than a white person? (same argument with Iran and Saudi Arabia, China and Hong Kong, Russia and Ukraine etc. After all, the skin colours are the same).

 

If we want to diversity "properly" then should we not be segmenting out every country, religion, and sexual orientation individually and then making sure we have the precise % representation of each group within each organization in that town or City?

Edited by spanky123, 11 June 2020 - 07:33 AM.

[Nparker]

...If we want to diversity "properly" then should we not be segmenting out every country, religion, and sexual orientation individually and then making sure we have the precise % representation of each group within each organization in that town or City?

Goals for 2021-22.

[Awaiting Juno]

Diversity is important - a person should not feel that because of their race or socio-economic status that they are unable to have a voice at the table.  However, a quota based system isn't real diversity - you'll get a very large share of those who want to speak among under-represented groups and a very very tiny share of those who want to speak among over-represented groups.  In short, you'll encourage a system that discriminates on the basis of race/gender/socio-economic status.

 

The real challenge should be how do we encourage a larger share of under-represented groups to participate in the forums in which they are under-represented?  

[Victoria Watcher]

the black guy we have on council has spent the least amount of time in this city and this country.

is his diversity more important than his experience living here?

[GetLisaSomeHelps]

the black guy we have on council has spent the least amount of time in this city and this country.

is his diversity more important than his experience living here?

 

Uhh, it's not like the Cov hired "the black guy we have on council" - he was elected by voters.

[Mike K.]

Love the part about diversity. As I pointed out yesterday, all of the Mayor's senior hires and promotions have been white women.

How many such new hires are we talking about? There is the Minister of Finance’s daughter, the artist in residence (not sure if that’s related to a decision explicitly by the mayor) and who else?

[GetLisaSomeHelps]

How many such new hires are we talking about? There is the Minister of Finance’s daughter, the artist in residence (not sure if that’s related to a decision explicitly by the mayor) and who else?

 

I'm not sure, but if we are talking City Manager - Lisa brought in Jason Johnson did she not? When he was servered the long-time deputy replaced him (who happens to be a woman but is more than qualified to be a City Manager...)

Edited by GetLisaSomeHelps, 11 June 2020 - 09:30 AM.

[Rob Randall]

the black guy we have on council has spent the least amount of time in this city and this country.

is his diversity more important than his experience living here?

 

Experience is overrated. That's why we got rid of Hollohan and his crew back in the 2008 election. A few fresh faces and perspectives are welcome. 

[spanky123]

How many such new hires are we talking about? There is the Minister of Finance’s daughter, the artist in residence (not sure if that’s related to a decision explicitly by the mayor) and who else?

 

Referring only to senior positions and counting promotions it would be. City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Chief of Strategy, Director of Finance, Head of HR, and Director of Sustainability, A women has been filling in for Fraser Work since he left but I don't know if that role has been formalized or not yet. From what I know, only the City Clerk and Director of Parks roles are held by men. 

 

I don't have a problem with that assuming we have the best people in each of those position. I am just pointing out how ironic it is for the Mayor to be directing diversity to other organizations when she has had anything but.