politics – Page 3 – CRD Watch Homepage

March 5, 2026

No Transparency: The District of Saanich Doesn’t Keep Track of the Total Costs for the Estimated Quarter Billion Dollar: Active Transportation Plan

No Transparency: The District of Saanich Doesn’t Keep Track of the Total Costs for the Estimated Quarter Billion Dollar: Active Transportation Plan I asked the District of Saanich for the “Totals spent on the Active Transportation Plan and variants.“ The District responded: “there are no records in… Continue reading

March 4, 2026

The UDI doesn’t register Federal Lobbying Activity, but it’s own public statements show that it is lobbying the Feds.

The UDI doesn’t register Federal Lobbying Activity, but it’s own public statements show that it is lobbying the Feds. By Sasha IzardMarch 4, 2026 The Urban Development Institute (UDI), is an actively registered lobbying organization on the BC Lobbyists Registry.… Continue reading

February 15, 2026

Experience: Amalgamation in Toronto Hurt Local Democracy, by Elizabeth Borek

Experience: Amalgamation in Toronto Hurt Local Democracy Saanich should avoid the same fate. Elizabeth BorekFeb 15, 2026 I was a resident of the City of Toronto when the various surrounding municipalities amalgamated with Toronto in the late 1990’s. There was… Continue reading

February 8, 2026

Newspaper clippings from the Times Colonist in 1981 reveal that the Housing Crisis scheme has been recycled a generation later.

Newspaper clippings from the Times Colonist in 1981 reveal that the Housing Crisis scheme has been recycled a generation later. By Sasha IzardFeb 8, 2026 The following are excerpts from February 1981 Times Colonist articles: “While many factors have contributed… Continue reading

February 6, 2026

New Facebook page created to Save Saanich from Amalgamation

New Facebook page created to Save Saanich from Amalgamation Sasha IzardFeb 6, 2026 Today I founded a new Facebook page created to save Saanich from amalgamation. Saanich may not survive the ballot question on amalgamation, which will be voted on… Continue reading

January 31, 2026

The NIMBY Smokescreen: How Bill 44 Protects Speculation, Not Communities, by M. Rose Munro

The NIMBY Smokescreen: How Bill 44 Protects Speculation, Not Communities M. Rose MunroJan 31, 2026 Bill 44 delivers guaranteed density and instant land‑value inflation to developers and speculators, while handing residents the bill. It accelerates upzoning without requiring affordability, infrastructure… Continue reading

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 25, 2026

Bill 44: The Oversight‑Free Makeover, by M. Rose Munro

Bill 44: The Oversight‑Free Makeover By M. Rose Munro Bill 44 must be repealed because it represents a sweeping, top‑down restructuring of land‑use authority pushed through without public consultation and municipal partnership. It is, put simply, a governance bypass: a bill that… Continue reading

January 24, 2026

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE HOUSING BLITZ, by M. Rose Munro

HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE HOUSING BLITZ M. Rose MunroJan 24, 2026 British Columbia’s sweeping housing reforms and land‑use overhaul were introduced and passed months before the Province publicly declared a “middle‑income housing crisis” in February 2024 with… Continue reading

January 23, 2026

Oak Bay Mayor Asks Council to Vote Again on Lansdowne Road Development, by Evan Brown

Oak Bay Mayor Asks Council to Vote Again on Lansdowne Road Development Evan BrownJan 23, 2026 Many Oak Bay residents are asking the same question: Why is the proposed development at 2830 and 2850 Lansdowne Road back before Council after… Continue reading

January 15, 2026

Open Letter- Subject: Urgent Opposition to Bill M-216 Regarding Climate Targets, Public Safety, and the Right to a Healthy Environment, by Linda Jeaurond

Open Letter- Subject: Urgent Opposition to Bill M-216 Regarding Climate Targets, Public Safety, and the Right to a Healthy Environment By Linda JeaurondJan 15, 2025 OPEN LETTER To: Select Standing Committee on Private Bills and Private Members’ BillsHon. Christine Boyle,… Continue reading