Citizens group campaigns to replace Victoria city council

Victoria has just under a year to go before municipal elections, but one group of citizens is attempting to get a jump-start on campaigning.

Though the exact purpose of the “New Council” group is unclear, they appear to be campaigning to replace the current city council.

They’ve established NewCouncil.ca, a website outlining discontent with the current leadership and featuring a survey.

“This is a temporary and simple website in which we want to move beyond the complaining to real constructive feedback about what’s needed,” their statement reads. “We want to hear from those who live in Victoria, run or own businesses or other agencies within the boundaries of Victoria, and it probably makes sense to hear from those who visit Victoria, or want to.”

Based on opposition to additional supportive housing

A catalyzing event for the campaign appears to be city council’s approval of additional supportive housing at Mount Edwards Court.

The facility, which provides transitional housing and support services for 38 people, was recently rezoned to allow for 40 more supportive housing apartments and 15 affordable apartments, all of which are for residents 55+ years of age.

But for the New Council group, the addition of more elderly residents appears to be viewed as a danger to the nearby Christ Church Cathedral School.

According to the website, the addition of these low-income seniors “will bring on much more grief.” The group went on to lament that apart from Councillor Geoff Young, city council disregarded their testimony.

Their sentiments stem from incidents of drug use and drug-induced delirium reported by school officials that may have been connected to former residents of Tent City living in Mt Edwards transitional housing.

Mayor Lisa Helps Responds

Asked about the group by the Times Colonist, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said that “If [the Mount Edward Court] decision is what they’re hanging on, I’m curious to know whether Victorians feel that putting low-income seniors with health challenges next to kids is a problem.”

Helps also voiced her concern about the lack of transparency on the website, saying, “The public doesn’t know who’s behind this.” However, the names of 24 Victoria residents involved in the group are listed on the site.