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If the City of Victoria renews its UDI development lobby membership, it will cost $1125 more than last year, a cost increase of 75% in one year.

A council members motion put forth forward by Victoria City Councillors Hammond and Gardiner, in September of last year, was temporarily postponed pending a discussion about a potential municipal lobbyist registry, which has since been discussed.

The motion to terminate the UDI development lobby membership should thus come back before council prior to the March 2, 2026 renewal date, to determine whether or not the membership will be renewed.


By Sasha Izard

Jan 12, 2025


According to the City of Victoria’s Jan 8, 2026 Committee of the Whole agenda – Staff Report (item G1.), if the City of Victoria renews its UDI development/real estate lobby membership, it will cost $1125 more than last year, a cost increase of 75% in one year.

Note, the membership costs provided in the staff report are before tax.

filestream.ashx

Committee of the Whole – January 08, 2026

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In September of last fall (2025), a council members motion regarding the City’s UDI membership was put forward:

City Councillors Hammond and Gardiner put forward Motion to “Terminate Victoria’s membership in the Urban Development Institute” “effective immediately”. – CRD Watch Homepage

That motion was postponed, and should arise again before the membership renewal date of March 2, 2026. The City of Victoria elected officials never voted that the City join the UDI lobby as a paying member. That was done by unelected city staff.

The following was the invoice for the current membership:

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See also:

Index of articles about lobbying influence on the City of Victoria and deliberations regarding it. – CRD Watch Homepage

Index of Articles regarding Jet Flights for City of Victoria Staff to development lobby events, that were charged to the City. – CRD Watch Homepage

Plane Flights and Helijets, where taxpayer dollars go from the City of Victoria, for Development Lobby Events – CRD Watch Homepage

An Expensive Party: Victoria Employee flew to Nashville and back, to hang out with developers at their “Social Event”. Cost to the taxpayer: almost $2000 – CRD Watch Homepage

CFAX host Adam Stirling and I discussed the almost 2000 taxpayer dollars spent, for one City of Victoria employee involved in overseeing land development, to attend a multi-day social event with developers in Nashville, by Sasha Izard – CRD Watch Homepage