April 6 - Ex-councillor wins byelection

Good morning !

Today we open with quick breakdown of last night's byelection in Esquimalt. Then, for Capital Daily Insider members, we have some guides to upcoming events and local cafes, along with items on a Costco hoax and a local couple winning a million dollars.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 / 7 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧 8 / 8

Tomorrow: 🌧 10 / 8

Tuesday: 🌧 11 / 6

NEWS

Brame wins Esquimalt byelection; 14-year councillor returns to role

Now-MLA Darlene Rotchford will be replaced, for the 18 months remaining in her term, by one of her predecessors. Meagan Brame, a 2008-2022 councillor, has won the byelection in the preliminary unofficial tally. This race saw more contenders (8) for a single seat than 2022 had for all 6 council seats.

The result was decided by just 59 votes; Brame secured 422 while runner-up Kody Thomson had 363. Thomson, 29, plans to run again in 2026. The Chamber of Commerce's Holly Courtright was third with 314.

Ran in BC election, but BC United party folded

Brame spoke publicly about being surprised and confused by her party's abrupt collapse in the middle of her campaign. She chose not to join the Conservatives, citing insurmountable differences on social and climate issues, and instead endorsed Green candidate Camille Currie.

Brame said she did not run to keep her council seat in 2022 so as to not cause a byelection if she won that provincial seat in 2024. She now says that running at a higher level was an “eye-opening experience” that made her realize she is “truly a grassroots politician at heart.” She said ridings’ wider scopes make it hard to do the community engagement she values, and that she will run in 2026 to stay on council.

Brame’s byelection campaign emphasized ‘growing smart’

Her “grow smart" vision involved responding to development by scaling up amenities, giving density allowances on order to get affordable units, and protecting the “small-town feel” of Esquimalt.

She was also interested in a monorail on the old E&N track in the long term, and in the short term would have preferred to go ahead with some city-service and fire staff roles that the township cut from its 2025 budget. She wanted to have more businesses in Esquimalt, to keep residents shopping within the borders, and to attract more doctors and nurses by having affordable and available places to live and to set up clinics. 

Turnout low, even for a byelection

Brame won with 422 votes; it would have taken nearly 5 times that amount just to grab the 6th & final seat in the 2022 general election.

Per the Times Colonist, there were 1,648 voters—a little over 8% of the 13,687 residents who were eligible. Vancouver's two-seat byelection, also held yesterday, drew 15% turnout while Victoria's byelection in late 2020 drew 17%. Ladysmith, which is a little more than half the size of Esquimalt, drew 23% earlier this year. 

Sooke still waiting to hold byelection

That municipality also had a councillor who was elected as a BC NDP MLA last fall—Dana Lajeunesse. But because Mayor Maja Tait is running this month to become a federal MP, the district has delayed its council byelection in case a new mayor (and possibly another councillor) also needs to be chosen.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Rainy week ahead, but rising temperatures and possibly sun on Weds.

Last day for Langford OCP survey.

Some local gas prices spike back up after post-carbon-tax dip. [VicNews]

Grizzlies win 3-1 over Coquitlam Express in Game 2 of BCHL playoff series.

Local Champion program applications are due today. [City of Victoria]

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