GUEST COLUMN – Saanich voters flex their muscles to oppose AAP proposal

Saanich residents defeated an Alternative Approval Process proposal earlier this month for a $150 million operations centre redevelopment. Response forms opposing the project totalled 10,613 or 12.1 per cent of eligible voters, surpassing the 10 per cent threshold. The Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria, a non-profit, non-partisan citizens’ advocacy group, commented on the outcome this past weekend in this column, republished here with permission.

By GRUMPY TAXPAYER$ OF GREATER VICTORIA

MORE THAN 10,000 Saanich residents made the effort to vote – during a few summer weeks – to block a $150 million loan request for a new operations centre.

The public, political masters and pundits are now wondering why those best laid plans were rejected.

Are taxpayers fed up with the increasing tax load or afraid the $150 million budget will balloon far above that figure?

Following decades of cost-plus budgeting, property taxes increased 8.02 % this year and the average five-year household estimated increase is 7.44%. To pay for the yard, the average homeowner would have seen a tax hike of 0.85% for the next four years. On top of that, water, sewer and solid waste utility bills are all going up seven or eight percent annually during the five-year period.

Were residents unconvinced of the need?

It’s not surprising a new yard was the number one priority of council. The facility is critical to provide services for the district, and doesn’t meet building codes, provide inadequate space and pose safety risks. There may have been some aspect of the plan that was particularly unacceptable.

Maybe there wasn’t sufficient public engagement?

The need for a new yard and a large expenditure has been known for years. Compared to many of the other large regional infrastructure projects, Saanich provided considerable opportunity to weigh-in going back months. An operation centre is seemingly unimportant and may not have immediately attracted public scrutiny (especially if you’re searching for council agendas or minutes on the district website).

Does it point to general dissatisfaction with Saanich council?

Within a few months Save Our Saanich (SOS) became an influential advocacy group that successfully led opposition to the AAP. Since the fall Saanich has been also getting an earful on the proposed 20-year redevelopment plan for the Quadra and MacKenzie corridors. It culminated in a large, rowdy turnout at chambers on July 9.

While a long way from any possible decision or action, some residents are anxious about an amalgamation with Victoria. It’s probable, given the strong recommendation of the Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly, the matter will go to referendum next year at election time.

Maybe a groundswell of voters have decided some longtime Saanich councillors have finally used up their political capital and reached their best-before-date.

Or, more than likely, were voters judging the AAP process?

In recent years voters around the province have been increasingly opposed to the undemocratic nature of the AAP process. Unlike a municipal vote or a referendum, the public feels very uncomfortable with needing to vote against a jaw-dropping loan request, launching court cases and rejecting several controversial loans.

In 2012, the federal government outlawed negative option billing in the business world. Despite the fact it disrespects voters, discredits municipal governments and erodes public trust, this province embraces it the concept.

Now that the province has doubled municipal loan limits and decreased the need there will be fewer AAPs and less public pushback. It’s very unlikely Saanich council will proceed unilaterally with the operations centre project.

Shutting down this AAP loan request underscores the need for the province to update the rest of the dusty legislation governing municipalities.

Voters rejecting the AAP suggests an inflection point for politics in Saanich. The civic election and likely referendum questions on Oct. 17, 2026 already points to a sea change.

The Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria Chair is John Treleaven and the Vice Chair is Stan Bartlett.