‘Livable CRD’: Grading candidate answers – what are the names? It’s a secret
By Wendy Lidgate
August 4, 2026
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As a resident and registered voter in Central Saanich I have been so disillusioned with Central Saanich council approving some of the large condo buildings in the area. The final straw for me was the expropriation of Hovey Road and the sale of 4 acres of prime real estate to developers.
When the newly formed Livable CRD came to my attention I started doing some research on them and the 11 other focus groups.
I found they were putting together a questionnaire for each candidate running in the Capital Regional District. Each participating group contributes the questions in its area of focus, and that same group grades candidates’ responses to the questions it submitted.
Scoring System: Candidate answers are graded on an A to F scale and compiled into a public scorecard on the Livable CRD Scorecard platform.
My first question – who is grading the answers?
On the Livable CRD website, I read the following sentence:
Candidates will be graded by subject matter experts from the organizations that make up the coalition
After researching the websites of all organizations, I felt it was important to know who these experts are.
On Friday, July 31, 2026 I sent an email to Livable CRD as well as 8 of the organizations listed on the Livable CRD website. Some of the organizations did not provide a website or email. The main question I had for each one was: Please provide me the names of the experts who will be grading candidate answers to your questions.
On August 2nd I noticed the above statement referring to “subject matter experts” had been removed from Livable CRD website.
So I ask myself why they would remove that statement. Maybe there are no experts. Who are they? So now the question is – will they provide me the names of the non-experts who will be grading candidate’s answers?
I received a reply to my first email from both Livable CRD and Better Island Transit. They did not and have not provided me with the names of people within their organization who will be doing the grading.
Do you think these organizations are special interest groups and activists?
This is from the Livable CRD website. It is an example of the first and top grade:
A – Excellent – Strong alignment with coalition standards across the topics we evaluate. Positions consistently support a more livable, inclusive Capital Region.
On August 3rd, I sent more emails, once again, requesting the name or names in their organization, which will be grading answers to their questions.
If they are open and transparent as they say they are, providing the names should not be a problem.
As of today, August 4, 2026, I have only received a response from Michael Bassili spokesperson for Livable CRD and Todd Litman from Better Island Transit.
Their responses have been very evasive. I wonder what they are hiding. Not one of the groups provided me with the names of the people in their group who will be grading the answers. Why not?
I will be putting together another post soon which will include the email exchanges between me, Michael Bassili and Todd Litman. You can then judge for yourself if you think they are being transparent.
The following is a list of the organizations along with their website (if available) and email address. Do some research on Homes for Living – it is interesting.
If you are interested or have questions yourself, please take the time to send them an email. I would be interested in the response you receive.
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Livable CRD – Livable CRD website states: Member groups can endorse candidates under their own banners, but Livable CRD is “explicitly non-partisan” and won’t be endorsing anyone, he said. “We’re just providing data.” Email address: hello@livablecrd.ca Website: livablecrd.ca
Homes for Living: Focuses on housing affordability and availability. We are a volunteer-driven non-profit incorporated under the BC Societies Act.
Email: hello@homesforliving.ca Website: homesforliving.ca
Public Engagement: Frequently participates in local government discussions, such as addressing municipal councils on zoning and community growth plans, revise official community plans to allow 6 storey apartment buildings.
Walk On Victoria: Advocates for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and
Walking. Email: walkonvictoria@gmail.com
Climate Justice Victoria: Campaigns for local climate action and equity. Email: darcybriggs@gmail.com
Better Island Transit & Better Transit YYJ: Advocate for improved regional public transportation. contact@betterislandtransit.ca
Better Transit YYJ: Chaired by Sam Holland, operating as a regional transit advocacy group in the Capital Region.
hello@bettertransityyj.ca
Family Doctors for Saanich: Highlights local healthcare access needs. No email provided.
Greater Victoria Acting Together: Works on broad community and social issues. Email: admin@gvat.ca
Victori’us Arts: Focuses on local arts and cultural opportunities.
Email: victoriusarts@gmail.com
Better Columbia – Publishes news and critical commentary on urban development and city planning. Email – info@bettercolumbia.ca
Strong Towns Victoria is a local citizen-advocacy group part of the broader Strong Towns movement. Works to change local conversations around housing, parking minimums, and street design to prioritize people over vehicles.
Strong Towns Victoria does not have a dedicated local website or direct public email address, operating instead as a local organization connected to the main Strong Towns organization.
Common Horizon Victoria – At Common Horizon, we are building a mass movement of everyday people. We come together to take power away from the billionaire class, win solutions to the climate crisis that secure good jobs, address affordability and ensure a dignified life for all.
Email – info@commonhorizoncommun.org
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See also:
‘Livable CRD’, and its alliance of astroturfing organizations, seeking to influence the outcome of the 2026 local government election. – CRD Watch Homepage
Greater Victoria Acting Together (GVAT) appears to be run by a member of the political pressure group Homes For Living. – CRD Watch Homepage
2 Sentence Constitution of the Homes For Living Foundation removes any doubt that Homes For Living (HFL) is a purpose-built pressure group designed to influence municipal politicians. – CRD Watch Homepage
Index of Articles and other Media Coverage about Homes For Living – CRD Watch Homepage
Dogwood Wants Your Name, Phone Number and Postal Code. Here Is What That Buys Them. – CRD Watch Homepage
CRD Watch Homepage 
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