Feb 28 - VicPD looks for budget increase, again

Good morning !

Seems Wayne Gretzky has disappointed many Canadians with his political leanings and how he didn’t wear a Canadian jersey last week during the 4 Nations hockey tournament (where he gave a thumbs up to the US side, and later gave Canadian players red, MAGA-resembling baseball caps that read “Be Great.”)

The Great One has had an Order of Canada just sitting there waiting for him at Government House in Ottawa since 2009. Many Canadians don’t think that’s so great.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 11 / 6

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 10 / 6

Sunday: ☁️ 10 / 6

7-day forecast

NEWS

VicPD budget increase ask comes at a hard time for the city

VicPD is requesting a nearly 10% increase to its budget for 2025, amounting to $7 million, which would bring the department's full operating budget to $82.6 million.

The police say they need the additional money to cover rising operational costs, staffing challenges, and inflation. 

VicPD argues that the budget increase is necessary to recruit officers (VicPD says it has a 13% officer vacancy rate) and civilian workers, and to maintain public safety—although Stats Canada data indicate a decrease in violent crime in Victoria over the last year. 

The increase would be partially offset by a $1.7 million revenue boost, including contributions from Esquimalt.

However, the request has sparked debate, as the city is already grappling with an 8.8% property tax increase, and it’s about to take out a big loan to pay for a new Crystal Pool. 

Some residents don’t want the city to spend more on policing when there are other social and housing issues that could use a cash injection.

With the budget being planned now for release in April, Mayor Marianne Alto has defended the increase, emphasizing the importance of public safety and law enforcement.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

A Mart Korean Grocery on Yates closing today after 20 years.

USB-A wall charger on recall: Electric shock, fire hazard. [Details]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

Support local journalism by supporting Capital Daily. Become a Capital Daily Insider member today and help bring local stories to life. 

FOOD

Friday night is date night… where are you going tonight?

If it’s a night for some fine dining, we have you covered.

Victoria has one of the highest restaurant-to-patron ratios in North America, with an almost inordinate amount of eateries for a city its size.

And while we’re pretty big on pubs and yummy but low-key cafes, the capital city has a delectable selection of fine dining fare, with plenty of tasty trattorias and beckoning bistros to satiate the hungriest of the hungry.

Our sister publication Tasting Victoria asked readers where they like to go, and they calmly put down their fine cutlery, took a sip of wine, and told us, er, where to go.

Here’s a helping hand if you’re looking to indulge in some succulent cuisine.

If you’re more of the herbivorous set and not one for meat, we’ve got a similar listing of vegan and vegetarian options—the best of plant-based banqueting. 

Bon appétit!

⭐️ Capital Picks

⚽ Pacific FC vs. UVic Vikes soccer friendly. [Tomorrow at 7:30pm]

⚽ UVic to host 2026 U SPORTS men’s soccer championship.

🌈 Win big while making a difference! The Pot of Gold 50/50 supports Island kids with complex health needs. Tickets are on sale until March 17.*

🧼 Downtown Victoria clean-up event. [Volunteer for March 15]

🍁 Buy only Canadian today. Show our retailers some 💕and stand together.

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

We’ve answered your border demands, Canada tells White House
With threatened tariffs hanging over the Canadian economy, the federal government has acted on US concerns about border security and fentanyl trafficking. That was the message Public Safety Minister David McGuinty brought to Washington yesterday. He was accompanied by newly appointed "fentanyl czar" Kevin Brosseau in a bid to convince the US administration it shouldn’t impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. Those taxes are expected to be in place next Tue. [MSN / CP]

Auto theft more than doubles in first 2 months on the Westshore
From New Year’s Day to Feb. 25, Westshore RCMP said they received 22 reports of stolen vehicles. That figure was eight over the same timeframe last year. Nine of the 22 vehicles reported stolen were pickup trucks, they said. RCMP suggest using anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks for older vehicles. They also suggest common-sense approaches such as locking your vehicle, knowing where your keys are, ensuring your garage door or gate is closed, and parking your vehicle in a safe, well-lit place. [RCMP]

Buy a private island near Salt Spring for less than the average price of a home in Victoria
Clam Shell Island, near Long Harbour on a tip of Salt Spring, is going for $695K, which could be seen as a bargain compared with the $1.15 million you would pay for the average single-family home in the region. Clam Shell’s price has dropped $150K from last June when it was on the market for $845K. The 1.1-acre (.45-ha) island has a patently awesome view and comes with a home that is partially developed. [CHEK]

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🗓️ Things to do

💼 Sooke Job Fair: Meet local employers and community providers from various industries and network your way to your next job. Register in advance on Eventbrite to be entered to win a prize pack. Edward Milne Community School. March 20. 1-5pm.  [Info]

📑 Poet Wayde Compton reads poetry from his first book 49th Parallel Psalm: a stunning set of poems documenting the migration of the first Black settlers to Canada. Capital Daily wrote about Compton last year. Russell Books. Today. 7pm. [Info]

🌹LA fires benefit concert: Out loud for Altadena With Kumaimi, Hot Po, & Fangirl. This event is dedicated to the communities in Altadena and Pasadena and throughout LA that have been displaced & affected by fires in the Eaton Valley. Lucky Bar. Tonight. [Info]

😆 Nikki Glaser will make you laugh. The Emmy Award-winning comedian—and recent Golden Globes host—will play to a sold-out crowd. Royal Theatre. Tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🎭 The Prom: St. Michael’s University School is proud to present a cast, crew, and orchestra of Grade 9-12 students in the hit Broadway musical. McPherson Playhouse. Tonight, 7:30pm, & tomorrow, 2pm & 7:30pm. [Info]

🎸Current Swell: With founding member Louis Sadava on bass and regular collaborators Phil Hamelin and Dave St. Jean in the fold, the Victoria band returns to play tunes from their latest EP, Peacekeeper. Royal Theatre. Tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

😂 More Comedy: Pat McGann. One of the sharpest standups in the comedy world, Pat is a relative latecomer to comedy, having started standup at the age of 31 after realizing he was not very good at selling packaging. Capital Ballroom. Tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🎻 Emily Carr String Quartet Music: InsideOUT Respighi. Tea, coffee, and sundries will be served, followed by discussion, analysis, and a full performance of Respighi's Il Tramonto for string quartet and mezzo-soprano. Chief and Petty Officers' Mess. Tomorrow. 10:30am-12pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Sooke Harbour House swindler loses deportation appeal; Earthquake early-warning system not quite ready; Victoria woman charged in car-crash death near Nanaimo. [Feb. 27]

Construction site cleanup addressed in bylaw update. [Capital Daily] 

Don’t go: Premier ‘strongly’ discouraging BC residents from travelling to US. [Times Colonist]

BC Conservatives’ non-confidence vote falls short. [CTV]

Federal and provincial governments acknowledge W̱SÁNEĆ Nation as the successor to North Saanich and South Saanich Treaties of 1852. [CHEK]

The World We Want Contest launched by Victoria non-profit Creatively United for the Planet. 

The Friendship Guide from UVic professor Jillian Roberts. Timely, following Pink Shirt Day.

That’s it!

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