Local Economy & Community Wealth

Businesses already carry the normal risks of operating. They should not also be expected to absorb avoidable costs created by poorly functioning public systems.

When streets are unsafe, permitting is slow, transportation does not work well, or public spaces require repeated private cleanup and security, those costs do not disappear. They are simply shifted onto businesses, workers and customers.

As Mayor, I will make those spillover costs part of the decision, rather than leave businesses, workers and customers to absorb them afterward.

Victoria already has business-support and economic-development programs. The focus now should be on making the everyday relationship with City Hall work better: clearer requirements, predictable timelines, faster decisions where possible, and fewer unnecessary delays.

Small businesses in particular should not need specialized expertise simply to navigate ordinary municipal processes.

Where City rules are part of the barrier, I will look for practical ways to make existing commercial space easier to adapt for small businesses, including clearer rules and faster approvals for appropriate changes of use or configuration.

City Hall should also champion a practical Buy Local effort that encourages residents, businesses and public institutions to keep more of their spending in our community.

Canada’s current trade pressures are a reminder that stronger local supply chains matter. City Hall cannot control tariffs, but it can make more deliberate choices about where its own spending goes and how much economic value stays in the community.

As Mayor, I will push to use City purchasing more strategically. It will be easier for local businesses, co-operatives, social enterprises, Indigenous businesses and other community-based suppliers to compete for City work.

Buying local does not mean paying any price. Procurement decisions should balance the added local economic value with quality and value for money, using clear, consistent criteria and full transparency.

The recent e-bike-share contract with Lime shows why I want City procurement reviewed. The City says Lime was selected through a competitive process that considered financial value, sustainability, equity, accessibility and social value, and the company has hired local staff. However, I want to examine whether Canadian and local economic value can lawfully carry more weight alongside price, service quality and other requirements. My goal is to keep more of the economic benefit of City spending circulating in our community.

I support living wages, secure employment, apprenticeships, strong public services and a constructive relationship with organized labour.

As Mayor, I will treat the City’s workforce as a source of expertise and look for practical ways to strengthen training and apprenticeship opportunities where City Hall can make a difference. People who work in Victoria should be able to build a good life here and thrive.

Major City decisions can affect customer access, deliveries, operating costs, investment and jobs. Those effects should be considered before decisions are made, not treated as secondary concerns afterward.

As Mayor, I will expect major policies and projects to assess their full economic consequences and, where practical, report whether the results justified the costs and trade-offs.

A strong economy should also protect the qualities that make Victoria a place people want to live, work, visit and invest in.

Economic development should be measured not only by investment attracted, but by the lasting jobs, opportunity and prosperity it creates for people who live here.

These are my current Local Economy policy commitments and the direction I intend to pursue. I want to hear from you. Every policy remains open to new evidence, public input and better ideas. My commitment to listening includes establishing a Citizens’ Assembly to give residents a meaningful role in shaping Victoria’s future.