A new tool has been launched by the District of Saanich to increase the municipal council’s transparency with residents, showing how each councillor votes for different bylaws and initiatives.
The Council Voting Dashboard Tool was made in order to provide Saanich residents with an alternative and more visual way of accessing council meeting information.
“We’re incredibly proud to introduce the Council Voting Dashboard Tool to our community. This Tool represents a vital step in making government processes more accessible for Saanich residents,” says Director of Legislative & Protective Services Angila Bains.
“By reimagining how Council voting information and resolutions are presented to residents, we are encouraging citizens to engage more deeply with local governance and better understand the decisions that shape our community.”
The District says that this tool will enhance community understanding and engagement in local governance by allowing residents to gain deeper insights into how individual councillors vote on specific topics at specific meetings.
To make it simple and easy to use, the dashboard takes information which was previously available but difficult to navigate, and presents it in a refreshed way that is easily digestible.
“Saanich is one of the first municipalities in BC to have a Council voting dashboard that uses modern reporting capabilities and is automatically updated after a two-day review period,” says Chief Information Officer Trevor Hurst.
“The addition of this Dashboard, along with recently unveiled improvements to our digital agenda management program, are part of the District’s ongoing commitment to making Council information more accessible for all.”
The District says the dashboard is best viewed on a computer or laptop, but is available and accessible for mobile users as well.
Check out the new online dashboard here.
