674 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I think cocaine would make you lively at council meetings.

[Victoria Watcher]

View Royal votes in favour of pay increase for mayor and councillors

Council voted in favour of a staff recommendation to increase the mayor’s remuneration by 32.6 per cent to $44,687 annually, and pay councillors half that rate — $22,343.50 per year.

https://www.timescol...cillors-5805751

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 September 2022 - 08:31 AM.

[Nparker]

View Royal votes in favour of pay increase for mayor and councillors...

The voters might have something to say about this on October 15.

[Victoria Watcher]

 

 

 

All are incumbents except the two famous Brotherstons (both have been councillors in the past), and Brisebois.

 

 

https://www.highlands.ca/127/Council

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 September 2022 - 04:47 AM.

[Nparker]

Highlands has to be the most unnecessary municipality in our region. Pretty much each resident is on council.

[Victoria Watcher]

Fourteen people, including B.C. Premier John Horgan's sister-in-law, have declared their candidacy for a seat on Langford, B.C., council in the October municipal election.

 

Three others have declared their candidacy for mayor, including long-sitting mayor Stew Young.

 

Shirley Ackland, the wife of the premier's late brother who died of cancer in 2018, previously served as mayor of Port McNeill, B.C., and is still on the payroll as an instructor at North Island College in Courtenay, B.C., according to her candidate nomination papers.

 

Dan Oickle and Scott Peter Goodmanson will challenge Young for the mayor's chair, which he has held continuously since 1993.

 

 

 

https://vancouverisl...uncil-1.6064999

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 September 2022 - 08:19 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Three West Shore churches are hosting all-candidate “listening circles” for those running in the upcoming municipal election.

Rev. Heidi Koschzeck, of Gordon United Church in Langford, said in a statement that the aim of the events is to change the perception that politicians don’t listen to residents.

Separate events will be held for municipal candidates in Langford, Colwood and Metchosin.

All of the candidates have been invited and will be given time to respond to any questions or concerns raised. Comments will have a time limit and be moderated to ensure an equitable and respectful experience.

https://www.vicnews....pal-candidates/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 September 2022 - 02:52 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Two candidates remain in race for next Langford mayor as Dan Oickle bows out

 

Oickle said he dropped out of the race as his mother has entered hospice care

 

https://www.vicnews....ickle-bows-out/

[Victoria Watcher]

Mayor acclaimed, nine councillor candidates in Highlands

https://www.cheknews...hlands-1093345/


In 2010, a B.C. Supreme Court judge found Ken Brotherston not guity of murder. The court ruled that Ken Brotherston killed a man in self-defense in May 2008, after the man pointed a gun at him while saying things like “I’m going to kill you.”

“Like many parents I have lived with the horrific consequences of their childrens’ addictions,” Ken Brotherston said to CHEK News in an email statement. “I lost one of my sons to drugs. That experience fuels my desire to create a world and a community where people can feel rooted and safe and that is part of why I am running for council again.”

__________

Marie Brotherston has a podcast where she talks about the impact that addictions have had on their family, as well as the 2008 incident where her husband and two sons were charged, then later acquitted, of murder.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 24 September 2022 - 03:25 PM.

[Mike K.]

Whoa, what’s happening here? That’s quite the indictment.

Homeowners Association Questions Ethics of Colwood Mayor and Councillor Over up to $14 million in Lost Community Amenity Contributions

“The people of our community are fed up, and the last week has been the last straw for the hard-working people of Colwood,” stated John English, President of the Royal Bay Homeowners Association, Inc., representing hundreds of residents in the city’s largest property development.

The statement comes after incumbent Mayor Rob Martin and Councillor Dean Jantzen refused to recuse themselves from voting on changes to the City of Colwood's Official Community Plan at the September 26, 2022 meeting of Council, after public perception of the potential conflict of interest was raised during a public hearing on September 22, 2022 where approximately 60 people packed the gallery to voice their opposition to the changes – not one person (other than the project proponent) spoke in favour of the changes.

Both Martin and Jantzen admitted receiving campaign contributions then voted in favour of changes to the city’s Official Community Plan which left up to $14 million worth of community amenity contributions in the pockets of the developers.

Colwood Councillor Dean Jantzen and Mayor Rob Martin
The NDP Government introduced legislation in 2017 to try to put a stop to this potentially unethical practice ...
John Horgan on Global/Campaign Contributions
The only Councillor to recuse himself for a perceived conflict of interest was incumbent Doug Kobayashi who is now running for Mayor.

"In a high-growth region that’s been crying out for community amenities for children, youth, families, and seniors, the loss of up to $14 million in potential fixes is a real gut punch", said English.

The potential conflict of interest issue is just the latest in a string of questionable ethical choices by the incumbent mayor and Councillor Jantzen (a law enforcement officer) which has left community residents confused about who the elected officials represent, the citizens who live here or developers from out-of-town.

Beyond Martin’s and Jantzen’s refusal to recuse themselves in matters affecting the businesses of their campaign donors, the two are also being called out over the controversial 85% wage increase for Mayor and Council, with the mayor the big winner.

Community members were shocked when the 85% pay increase was originally floated, then flabbergasted to learn that the tens of thousands of dollars the mayor receives for serving on Capital Regional District committees were never disclosed to the citizen group tasked with reviewing council remuneration in spring of this year.

Voters in Colwood can decide if this is the type of leadership they want in the upcoming election on October 15, 2022.

[dasmo]

Mayor acclaimed, nine councillor candidates in Highlands

https://www.cheknews...hlands-1093345/


In 2010, a B.C. Supreme Court judge found Ken Brotherston not guity of murder. The court ruled that Ken Brotherston killed a man in self-defense in May 2008, after the man pointed a gun at him while saying things like “I’m going to kill you.”

“Like many parents I have lived with the horrific consequences of their childrens’ addictions,” Ken Brotherston said to CHEK News in an email statement. “I lost one of my sons to drugs. That experience fuels my desire to create a world and a community where people can feel rooted and safe and that is part of why I am running for council again.”

__________

Marie Brotherston has a podcast where she talks about the impact that addictions have had on their family, as well as the 2008 incident where her husband and two sons were charged, then later acquitted, of murder.

You don't run against a mayor that has a murder under his belt. Self defence or not! 

[Victoria Watcher]

After more than three decades, Metchosin will get a new mayor next month.

Councillors Kyara Kahakauwila and Marie-Térèse Little are competing for the seat vacated by Mayor John Ranns, who has served eight terms at the district’s helm, but isn’t running in the Oct. 15 municipal election.

Both are campaigning on promises to preserve the rural character of the community against encroaching development.

https://www.timescol...0-years-5894809

Only one incumbent councillor — Sharie Epp — is in this race this fall, with seven new candidates vying for the four available councillor positions.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 October 2022 - 04:53 AM.

[Mike K.]

The population was maintained below 5,000 people by Ranns for as long as he could. Now that its crossed over, Metchosin residents are either going to pay higher taxes, or accept more development. There’s no two ways about it. Policing alone is going to raise the taxes by quite a lot (up to 5,000 and the province pays policing costs).

If David Eby’s plan is adopted, every dwelling will qualify for two or three additional units (we still don’t know if the urban areas apply to all or only select municipalities of a city).

[Victoria Watcher]

After more than three decades, Metchosin will get a new mayor next month.

Councillors Kyara Kahakauwila and Marie-Térèse Little are competing for the seat vacated by Mayor John Ranns, who has served eight terms at the district’s helm, but isn’t running in the Oct. 15 municipal election.

Both are campaigning on promises to preserve the rural character of the community against encroaching development.

https://www.timescol...0-years-5894809

Only one incumbent councillor — Sharie Epp — is in this race this fall, with seven new candidates vying for the four available councillor positions.

TC had to pull the headline and the first paragraph. Somebody miscalculated the Ranns mayor term length.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 01 October 2022 - 08:08 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

In the District of Metchosin, Kyara Kahakauwila and Marie-Terese Little are in the race to fill the chair that will be vacated by Mayor John Ranns, who opted not to run after serving eight terms as mayor. There are eight candidates in the running for four councillor seats. We asked each candidate to outline the most important thing council can do to improve the lives of residents. Here are their responses listed alphabetically.

Mayor candidates:

Kyara Kahakauwila


Having a council that respects each other’s differences and strengths and who can work well together for the collective good of our community regardless of diffing beliefs. Council sets policy and direction. Focusing on accountability, inclusion, collaboration and transparency, even the most contentious concerns can be managed to have a positive outcome for our community and residents.


https://www.vicnews....alk-priorities/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 02 October 2022 - 09:29 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Almost all the Sooke candidates’ statements focused on growth-related topics, voicing common values.

 

Everybody wants to retain a small-town feel. Everybody wants attainable housing. Everybody wants to protect green space. But if you want to provide more housing but still protect green space, that means increasing density, and how does that fit with Sooke’s vision of itself? Or if you stop building, won’t prices soar?

 

 

https://www.timescol...-growth-5905600

[Mike K.]

There’s that development exhaustion poking up.

People are having a tough time dealing with the population boom.

60 years ago, Victoria was still spreading out. There was plenty of choice for newcomers on where, and how to live. It was still the same when we had the boom 30 years ago. Today it’s density, even 40km from downtown Victoria.

[Victoria Watcher]

People are having a tough time dealing with the population immigration boom.

 

There is no natural (childbirth) population boom in Canada.

[Victoria Watcher]

60 years ago, Victoria was still spreading out. There was plenty of choice for newcomers on where, and how to live. It was still the same when we had the boom 30 years ago. Today it’s density, even 40km from downtown Victoria.

 

 

Now we are well over 400,000.

 

1962 (60 years ago) - about 75,000

1992 (30 years ago) - about 220,000 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 October 2022 - 06:11 AM.

[Mike K.]

It’s not immigration that is booming in Victoria, it’s in-migration from other parts of Canada, mostly.