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- Jan 11 - View Royal's proposed judicial review gains traction
Jan 11 - View Royal's proposed judicial review gains traction
Weekly roundup. Esquimalt draft budget gets council look-see tomorrow.
Capital Daily Team
January 11, 2026
Good morning !
I hope you’re enjoying your weekend so far. Today we’ve got a story on View Royal’s proposed judicial review of BC’s housing policies. Plus, a look at Esquimalt Fire Department’s brand new—and safer—gear, along with the weekly roundup for our Insiders.
— Robyn
Today’s approx. read time: 7 minutes
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NEWS
BC municipalities mull joining View Royal’s judicial review of housing policies
Housing being built in Colwood. Photo: James MacDonald / Capital Daily
View Royal is looking to challenge the province’s sweeping changes to housing policies—and it’s hoping other municipalities join it.
In December, the town put out an invitation to all BC municipalities to take part in a potential judicial review of the policies, including Bills 44, 47, 13, 15, and M216 (a private member’s bill) that shift some infrastructure and zoning authority from local governments to the province to fast-track approvals.
View Royal says these policies “raise serious questions about whether local governments can continue to operate as accountable democratic institutions.”
“These bills go beyond housing supply and, taken together, change how local democracy functions,” View Royal Mayor Sid Tobias told Capital Daily.
He said the bills raise concerns that “key decisions are being removed from public view with fewer opportunities for residents to be heard and for councils to exercise judgment.”
Support from other municipal leaders
UBCM members raised similar concerns about Bill M216, saying the proposal continues a “trend towards sweeping, centralized legislation that impacts local governments, developed without meaningful local government input.”
The invitation has already attracted some interest—on Dec. 17, North Cowichan’s council voted to have staff look into the benefits and costs of joining the review, and the topic is scheduled to be discussed at Oak Bay council’s meeting next week.
Tobias said that the town has heard from other municipalities and regional governments, and he’s noticed a pattern of concern for the change in democratic power.
Review not an opposition to housing, says Tobias
In his letter to fellow municipal governments, Tobias said that the purpose of the review “is not to oppose housing, but to obtain clarity on whether the province acted within lawful limits and whether proper democratic and procedural safeguards were respected.”
However, some BC councillors say the judicial review challenges an effective approach to increasing housing. Victoria Coun. Matt Dell responded to the invitation, telling View Royal to “Build housing, stop complaining!”
“There are too many municipalities around BC that refuse to help address the housing crisis, so provincial oversight and targets are absolutely required,” Dell wrote in an op-ed for Island Social Trends.
But not wanting to build housing doesn’t appear to be the motivation for View Royal’s judicial review. The town has exceeded its housing targets, receiving kudos from the BC government in November, alongside Colwood and the City of Langley.
⚠️ Capital Bulletin
Highway 1 closed: between Whittaker and Mill Bay roads, due to a vehicle incident.
Douglas and Burnside lane reduction begins tomorrow, and is expected to last five weeks.
Fisgard closed at Government tomorrow. 8am-12pm. [Info]
Sunday hours begin this weekend at the GVPL Central Branch.
Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.
