VICTORIA
Saul Andersen, 59, taxi owner/operator Top three issues:
Affordable housing! We need to reevaluate our building/zoning rules in order to facilitate sensible development and create more affordable living spaces. The Arts! ‘Nuff said? And finally, I offer a VISION of and for Greater Victoria. For instance, there’s amalgamation — definitely worth talking about. Food security? Harm reduction? How about a regional transportation strategy? Not to mention that after 20 years in a taxi, I can fix traffic!
One big idea:
Vision and communication.
Rob Duncan, 55, low-barrier supported housing duncan4mayor.ca Top three issues:
Housing, democracy, and transportation.
One big idea:
Fare-free buses going into downtown during morning rush hour and going out of downtown during afternoon rush hour, combined with (1) dedicated bus lanes on selected commuter routes, also going into downtown during morning rush hour and going out of downtown during afternoon rush hour, (2) a greatly expanded park-and-ride system, and (3) transit signal priority (which allows a bus approaching a green light to signal the light to stay green until the bus is through the intersection).
Michael Geoghegan, 52, lobbyist votemikeformayor.ca Top three issues:
My top three issues are addressing the affordable housing and homeless crises that has gripped our region, fixing the bike lane fiasco by relocating bike lanes to secondary roads and synchronizing traffic lights so as to encourage more shoppers to come downtown and providing much greater fiscal accountability and transparency at both the City and the CRD so we can stop doubling municipal taxes every eight years.
One big idea:
To get back to taking care of the fundamentals of running a city while making it a city that works for all of us. For example my idea for free annual recreation centre passes for kids 18 an under is one that has been copied by not one but two different municipal slates over in Surrey. Parking passes for contractors is something Calgary has, Victoria needs to do the same and finally replacing annual business licenses with a one time license as Langford has done is something I also support.
Stephen Hammond, 59, lawyer and professional speaker stephenhammondfor mayor.newcouncil.ca Top three issues:
1. Restoring Public Trust. Too many Victorians believe decisions are made by a select few people. True consultation isn’t having to scream bloody murder after a rushed decision is made. 2. Fiscal responsibility. We need an independent audit of the Johnson Bridge before the Crystal Pool becomes another boondoggle. 3. I want neighbourhoods to have an actual say in housing, and not feel they have to constantly fight over-development which changes the character of these neighbourhoods.
One big idea:
I want more daycare for families. With the province working towards more affordable daycare, I’d love Victoria to be a city that gives parents a break. With so many financial pressures on young families, it just makes sense to allow both parents to work if that’s their desire. A city has limitations, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work with builders, employers and agencies to help Victoria families with proper incentives.
Lisa Helps*, 42, mayor lisahelpsvictoria.ca Top three issues:
I’ve worked with a wide cross section of the community since January to build a detailed plan for the next four years. We began by asking “What’s wrong in Victoria today?” and then developing comprehensive solutions to the problems. Through this process, Victorians have identified the top issues as affordability, wellbeing and prosperity and taking real action on climate change. We need to make life more affordable, keep our economy strong, and future-proof the city for a changing climate.
One big idea:
The big idea I have for our community is very small. It’s to make it easy for moveable tiny homes to be rolled into backyards across the city at rents of no more than $500 per month. A group of women in their 50s and 60s who are part of a tiny house movement on Vancouver Island came to me with the idea. They are close to retirement, don’t have big pensions, are building tiny homes and would like to live affordably in Victoria in their tiny homes. Let’s begin with a pilot project!
David Arthur Johnston, 47, poverty avowed monk facebook.com/ DAJ4Mayor Top three issues:
The debt, the imposed addiction epidemic, and the revitalization of nobility within the police department.
One big idea:
Imagine 10,000 gardeners never having to pay rent again.
Bruce McGuigan, 59, sociology professor at Vancouver Island University bruceformayor.com Top three issues:
Transparent and representative governance Community and regional transportation planning Homelessness
Ryan Moen, 33, manual therapist and patient educator heyrymo.com Top three issues:
Meaningful consultation : times and spaces that draw significant numbers of participants, with follow through implementation of public input. Collaborative conversations : creating safe space for discourse, exploration of ideas, and open information sharing. Consent built decision making : Only “YES” means “YES” — silence is a failure, not a vote in favor of. Remembering both Equity and Equality in decision making.
One big idea:
Each neighbourhood having our version of a west coast “Maison de la Culture” — access to books, art, health amenities, conversation spaces, *politicians ( council outside of city hall ).