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Saanich councillors cost taxpayers close to $100,000 in off-island travel/conference expenses this term, according to FOI response.

Over a quarter of the $93,577.83 spent by the District on off-island councillor costs, was by Councillor Zac De Vries, who cost the District close to $25,000 in off-island costs this term.

The second costliest councillor in terms of off-island costs, if to add up the spreadsheet provided, was Teale Phelps Bondaroff at close to $16,000.

The third costliest councillor in terms of off-island costs, was Karen Harper at over $10,000. Harper is currently running for Saanich Mayor. According to her Saanich Bio, Harper is the Secretary Treasurer on-leave of the Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria.

By Sasha Izard

April 21, 2026


Last month, I submitting to the District of Saanich a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for:

“all airfare, boarding costs (e.g. costs for hotel/motel stays) and conference attendance (that required leaving Vancouver Island to attend)
paid by or reimbursed by the District of Saanich for elected officials.

Time Period of Requested Records: Oct 1, 2022 to March 17, 2026″

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Today, I received the response from the District. The response was brief, utterly lacking in detail, but provided only a one page spreadsheet with totals responsive to my FOI request:

“I have attached a spreadsheet provided by the Finance Department responsive to your request.”

This was the spreadsheet:

Councillors:

Bondaroff, Teale Phelps (Note: his name was included twice in the spreadsheet): $6,824.94 (2023) + $9,055.98 (2024 + 2025) = $15,880.92
Brice, Susan: $6,205.27
Brownoff, Judy: $4,967.68
Chambers, Nathalie: $5,773.73
de Vries, Zachary: $24,697.63
Harper, Karen: $10,273.19
Plant, Colin: $8,885.43
Westhaver, Filomena: $7,743.04

Mayor Dean Murdock: $9,150.94

Combined total for off island travel expenses of Saanich’s Mayor and council, according to the FOI response: $93,577.83

It is also notable that in 2023 alone, De Vries racked up over $11,500 in off-island costs to the taxpayer through District spending.

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Appendix 1: The District of Saanich’s letter of response to my FOI request.

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Appendix 2: Councillor Harper’s bio from the District of Saanich website:

Karen Harper | District of Saanich

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See also: List of campaign donations made by those involved in development and real estate to the campaigns of those who were elected to Saanich council in the 2022 election. – CRD Watch Homepage