• Increase funding for the Greater Victoria Rent Bank, to keep people housed and adress homelessness at the source

• Increase assistance for people moving through supportive housing, to make better use of our limited resources

• Change zoning bylaws, to reduce or eliminate displacement caused by redevelopment

• See the full platform here

• Increase funding for CRCL and other non-police repsonse programs, to better respond to community members in crisis

• Fight for a regional police force, to increase coordination and lower costs

• Increase traffic enforcement, to keep our roads safe for everyone

• See the full platform here

• Prepare for rail transit on Douglas street, to grow our transportation system sustainably

• Build more Bike Valets, and extend their hours, to reduce bike theft and make cycling more convenient

• Increase the amount of accessible street parking downtown, to make life easier for people with disabilities

• See the full platform here

• Legalize balcony solar, to reduce emissions, lower cost of living, and increase our energy independence

• Increase the number of community and boulevard gardens, to better connect people to the land and increase food security

• Mandate cardboard recycling on construction sites, to limit the environmental impact of construction

• See the full platform here

• Advocate to the province for a commercial vacancy tax, to make downtown more vibrant and fill empty storefronts

• Make it easier to start home-based small businesses, to help small businesses thrive, increase availability of commercial spaces, and decrease commercial rents

• Incentivize stacked industrial units, to create more jobs and increase tax revenue by making better use of our limited industrial land

• See the full platform here

• Work with school districts and other organizations to use underutilized spaces like school gyms for arts and culture events, to provide desperately needed space for artists to work and showcase their craft

• Increase arts and culture funding, to keep our arts scene healthy and vibrant

• Make it easier to renovate old spaces, to encourage creative reuse of existing spaces

• See the full platform here

• Implement mandatory investment property disclosures for councillors, to shine a light on who’s profiting from the housing crisis

• Introduce a council voting dashboard, to increase transparency and make it easier to follow local politics

• Use our land more efficiently, to save tax money and avoid austerity

• See the full platform here

• Strengthen Indigenous representation in city decision-making, to build better relationships and more inclusive government

• Ensure that councillors and city staff undergo cultural awareness training, to foster understanding and collaboration

• Assist and enable the Songhees and Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) nations to develop the Matullia lands in Rock Bay, to support Indigenous sovereignty and economic prosperity

• See the full platform here

• Build a municipal clinic, following the success of Colwood and Langford, to attract more family doctors and improve healthcare access

• Introduce a pilot program to allow alcohol consumption in some parks and beaches, to bring our bylaws in line with how people already use these spaces

• Build more public washrooms, and better maintain the ones we already have, to keep our streets clean and improve accessibility

• See the full platform here

The City should create more consistent opportunities for local Nations to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their communities and territories. This could include establishing regular meetings between Council and local Nation leadership, involving Indigenous representatives earlier in relevant planning processes, and seeking Indigenous input on major projects and policies. Building these relationships proactively, rather than only consulting when required, would help the City make better decisions and build trust over time.

Meaningful reconciliation requires our city government to understand the history, cultures, and ongoing experiences of Indigenous peoples in our community. Councillors and city staff should receive regular cultural awareness training developed in partnership with local Indigenous communities. This would help build a shared understanding of the impacts of colonialism, improve communication and relationships, and ensure that Indigenous perspectives are better reflected in the decisions and services of the City.

The Matullia lands present an extraordinary opportunity for local Nations and the city of Victoria. The Sen̓áḵw project in Vancouver provides an amazing example of how transformative and beneficial Indigenous-led development can be, both for the Nations themselves and for the community as a whole. Victoria should work collaboratively with local Nations to support their aspirations for the site and help create the conditions for ambitious, community-led development. This is an opportunity to advance reconciliation while creating new housing, economic opportunities, and community benefits for Victoria.