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[IslandNotes]

Two petitions - one specifically in Sooke BC, the other a Provincial one.  

Sooke Council Member Keven Pearson has signed, brave leadership there.  

 

Sooke experienced large increases (2023: 6.99%, 2024: 10.53%, 2025: 15.29% 2026 headed in a similar direction - way up!). Here are the links:

Provincial Petition (Municipalities are being asked to manage growing responsibilities like housing pressures, infrastructure expansion, public safety and social challenges using a funding model that relies almost entirely on property tax) https://www.change.org/FairFundingModelBCCities

 

Sooke Taxes Petition: https://c.org/SqQCscs2Z9 

Edited by IslandNotes, 26 November 2025 - 05:32 AM.

[Mike K.]

Interesting, thank you.

What is starting to sound alarm bells, is the District now has a pipeline of affordable rental projects built and coming that are not/will not be paying property taxes.

75 units are said to start construction next year where the medical clinic will go (it was supposed to open this year, now it looks like it’s coming in late 2028 or 2029). 45 or so units were built on Wadams Way, 75 units built on Charters Road, and 170 units completed on Drennan Street.

An additional project with around 75 units is proposed as a rental co-op. I don’t know if councils provide co-ops with tax breaks, but they are a form of affordable housing.

Regardless, 365 units or thereabouts are built including 75 coming (not including the co-op), not paying property taxes.