democracy – CRD Watch Homepage

January 29, 2026

Grassroots or Astroturfing? A comparison of the Save Our Saanich EO Code of Conduct, and that of the BC Conservatives.

Grassroots or Astroturfing? A comparison of the Save Our Saanich EO Code of Conduct, and that of the BC Conservatives. The comparison of the two documents by AI, reveals that “It is highly likely that one document was based on… Continue reading

January 14, 2026

Matt Dell Says No to Public Engagement, by Arthur McInnis

Matt Dell Says No to Public Engagement This writing critiques Councillor Dell for treating public participation as something to manage rather than welcome, arguing his position represents a step back from democratic engagement. Dell claims that biased public input helped… Continue reading

December 11, 2025

Presentation by Sasha Izard to the Special Committee to Review the Lobbyists Transparency Act

Presentation to the Special Committee to Review the Lobbyists Transparency Act Sasha IzardDec 11, 2025 Yesterday, on Dec 10, 2025 – I presented to the Special Committee to Review the Lobbyists Transparency Act, in the Parliament Building in Victoria BC.… Continue reading

November 27, 2025

Re: Bill M216, View Royal Mayor Calls Out Pattern of Legislation Reshaping Local Governance Without Consultation

Re: Bill M216, View Royal Mayor Calls Out Pattern of Legislation Reshaping Local Governance Without Consultation The letter, which strongly critiques the proposed legislation, also calls out and questions the role and influence of the UDI’s lobbying on Provincial housing… Continue reading

November 7, 2025

District of Saanich: “I have determined that while the records concerning the Procurement Law Office may be of interest to you, there is not evidence to indicate this matter has an impact on the wider community.” – The Procurement Law Office’s advice was cited at a council meeting as justification to award senior district staff the ability to award millions in contracts without the approval of elected officials.

District of Saanich: “I have determined that while the records concerning the Procurement Law Office may be of interest to you, there is not evidence to indicate this matter has an impact on the wider community.” – The Procurement Law… Continue reading

October 26, 2025

How is it that BC Housing’s Provincial Director of Redevelopment has simultaneously been the Director of a branch of BC’s most powerful lobbying organization for real estate and development interests? And why were they made administrator of BC Housing’s paid membership in that same branch of that same lobbying organization?

How is it that BC Housing’s Provincial Director of Redevelopment has simultaneously been the Director of a branch of BC’s most powerful lobbying organization for real estate and development interests? And why were they made administrator of BC Housing’s paid… Continue reading

October 24, 2025

After repeated failures by UBCM officials to provide minutes of their meetings when asked, and repeated denials over their availability; UBCM’s Executive Director has now provided minutes from previous years. The bare bone ‘minutes’ fail to even record how the individual elected officials (delegates) voted on resolutions.

After repeated failures by UBCM officials to provide minutes of their meetings when asked, and repeated denials over their availability; UBCM’s Executive Director has now provided minutes from previous years. The bare bone ‘minutes’ fail to even record how the… Continue reading

October 11, 2025

Petition that Section 13 of British Columbia’s Freedom of Information Legislation FOIPPA be removed.

Petition that Section 13 of British Columbia’s Freedom of Information Legislation FOIPPA be removed. Petition link: https://www.change.org/p/that-section-13-of-british-columbia-s-freedom-of-information-legislation-foippa-be-removed Text of the petition: We the signed, in the interests of true transparency and democracy, call upon the Province of British Columbia to… Continue reading

August 23, 2025

Deliberative Polling: Part of the toolbox of democracy, or part of the ever growing toolbox against democracy?

Deliberative Polling: Part of the toolbox of democracy, or part of the ever growing toolbox against democracy? “The idea is to determine not what public opinion is, but what it would be if people had time and the opportunity to… Continue reading

May 15, 2025

“Statement from View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias on Bill 15 and Bill 7” “Secrecy, NDAs, and the Collapse of Trust”

“Statement from View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias on Bill 15 and Bill 7” “Secrecy, NDAs, and the Collapse of Trust” “Statement from Mayor Sid Tobias on Bill 15 and Bill 7 May 14, 2025 View Royal, BC – On May 1,… Continue reading

October 26, 2024

CRD Cleaning up its act on the Regional Housing Advisory Committee

CRD Cleaning up its act on the Regional Housing Advisory Committee After discontinuing its 23 year-old membership with the Urban Development Institute (UDI), in June of this year (2024), the CRD has taken the next step in separating lobby and… Continue reading