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District of Saanich staff appear to have posted misinformation, in regard to city staff working with the Citizens Assembly for potentially years to come, as excuse for the District to put a hold on a potential lobby register.

The Victoria-Saanich Citizens Assembly whose task it was to explore amalgamation, is currently defunct, having already served its purpose.

The strange comment was attached to an agenda item regarding whether or not to pull the potential lobbyist registry from the so-called bike rack from Saanich’s Strategic Plan, something recommended by senior Saanich staff.

By Sasha Izard
Nov 26, 2025


On Wed, Nov 5, 2025 – I sent the following email to Sheila Allen, the Director of Corporate Services at the District of Saanich:

Subject: Question regarding Strategic Plan-Check-in document

Hello Sheila,

I was reviewing this document that was attached to item D1. at the Nov 3, 2025 Committee of the Whole.

I was wondering what this comment means in the top right corner: “A Lobby Register would require significant resources to implement and maintain.  Staff resources are allocated to the Citizens Assembly process which will continue to require significant staff time over the coming year(s).”

Thank you,
Sasha Izard

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Over a week later on Nov 13, 2025 and after receiving no response, I wrote a second email to Sheila Allen,

Hello Sheila,

Are you going to answer the question?

Thank you,

Sasha

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Sheila replied 11 minutes later:

Hi Sasha,

The comment if put another way may say that A Lobby Register would require significant staff time to implement and maintain.  Staff that may be allocated to such an initiative are tasked with other priorities into the foreseeable future.

Sheila 

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Hi Sheila,

Thank you for your response.

The comment was not put that way.

What does this section of the comment mean?

“Staff resources are allocated to the Citizens Assembly process which will continue to require significant staff time over the coming year(s).”

– Sasha

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Hello,

I believe that this was used as an example of the type of work that this team is responsible for.

Sheila

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Hello Sheila,

That is not how it is written:

It says “”A Lobby Register would require significant resources to implement and maintain.  Staff resources are allocated to the Citizens Assembly process which will continue to require significant staff time over the coming year(s)”.

How can that latter sentence be true?  The Citizens Assembly is not in process anymore.  It has ended.  How could it continue to require significant staff time over the coming year(s)?

Thank you again,
Sasha

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Hi Sasha,

As you are aware, Council directed staff to work with the City of Victoria on the ballot question to be approved by both Victoria and Saanich Councils with the aim to list this question on the ballot for the 2026 General Local Election. Special Council Meeting. This was a result of the Citizen’s Assembly work.

I don’t have anything more to offer on this particular comment and Council has elected to keep this item on the Bike Rack.

Sheila

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Hello Sheila,

While the the results of the now defunct Citizen’s Assembly’s work may have influenced that council decision, to comment that staff resources are allocated to the Citizens Assembly process is not accurate, wouldn’t you agree?

Thank you again,
Sasha

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As I mentioned, I have nothing further to add.

Kindly,

Sheila

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Hello Sheila,

So, basically by not answering the question the message from you is that as Director, Corporate Services you don’t mind if the District has posted misinformation for the public to see?

Do I have that correct?

Thank you,
Sasha
Concerned Saanich Resident

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The Director of Corporate Services did not respond to the question.

At the time of writing (Nov 26, 2025) the (mis)information is still posted on the District’s agenda for the Nov 3, 2025 Saanich Committee of the Whole under attachment 2 “Bike Rack” to item D1. Strategic Plan CHECK-IN

Notably, Attachment 1 was Updated, but not attachment 2.

The following comment is in Attachment 2:

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See also: Index of articles regarding lobby events and other meetings between government and lobbyists. – CRD Watch Homepage