March 1 - VicPD budget motion passes

Good morning !

The vast majority of those who partook in yesterday’s poll certainly weren’t on Wayne Gretzky’s team. We asked how you felt about the Great One cozying up to US President Donald Trump and the perception that he doesn’t appear concerned for his country during these strange Canada-USA times. Almost half selected “Total chump moves there, Champ.” A further 16% said they had “99 reasons to be mad at Gretzky.”

One reader seemed to sum the majority’s feelings this way:
“Unfortunate behaviour for a former icon!”

— Mark

Today’s approx. Read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌤️ 14 / 6

Tomorrow: ☁️ 10 / 6

Monday: 🌤️9 / 5

7-day forecast

NEWS

City says Yes to VicPD’s nearly 10% budget hike

Victoria council has approved a motion to give VicPD a 9.7% budget increase, to $79.1M—close to one-fourth of the city’s $365.6M draft operating budget. 

Beginning Mon., the council will deliberate the rest of the 2025 proposed budget before deciding whether to adopt it.

Esquimalt pays about 14% of VicPD’s expenditures, leaving Victoria on the hook for $68.3M, including the increase of $7M over last year—which, for Vic homeowners, will represent a 3.3% tax increase.

That escalation will coincide with an 8.8% hike in property taxes approved earlier this year, for an expected increase of 12.1%.

“It’s a difficult year for taxes, I get that,” said Coun. Chris Coleman, one of seven on the council who approved the police budget motion during a meeting of the committee of the whole.

“But I think it's also incredibly important that we continue to support the police department and the notion of community safety and service.”

Not right to exempt police from overall budget trim, say No voters

Coun. Jeremy Caradonna, along with Coun. Susan Kim, voted against the motion.

“Every single department in the city was asked to make budget cuts—except for the police department,” said Caradonna. Council had directed VicPD to trim down its budget ask like other departments—but the PD consistently refused.

“I don’t think that’s acceptable when we’re facing what could be the highest tax lift in living memory,” he said.

The city’s proposed million-a-day operational budget—up $37.6M from 2024—prioritizes housing and public safety. Some residents argue that $7M would serve the community better if directed to the former, and objection to the police cost was common in responses to the city's budget survey (though there were only 187 total responses).

Mayor Marianne Alto voted in favour of the police increase, saying the city has grown, but its gendarmerie hasn’t—and this will help.

Force facing personnel issues

VicPD says it has a 13% personnel vacancy rate and said it needs to hire four more officers and three civilians. 

Included in VicPD’s budget for this fiscal year is a payment of $694K that the province ordered the city to pay to cover part of the force’s 2023 budget.

Get more detail on the police budget increase at Capital Daily.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Reduce instances of distracted driving this month. [RCMP]

Pacemaker recall: Assurity and Endurity brand. [Moisture can get in]

Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly public submissions deadline is now midnight Mon. 

A cougar was seen yesterday afternoon near Hamsterly Beach at the north end of Elk Lake.

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—and get full access to the Sunday edition.

NEWS

BC, Canada, and W̱SÁNEĆ Nation commit to a new ‘shared understanding’ of treaties

For the first time, Canada and BC have recognized the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation as the successor to two treaties that date back more than a century and a half.

The Tsartlip and Tseycum Nations released a joint statement with the federal and BC governments declaring the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation—which includes Tsartlip and Tseycum, as well as Tsawout, Pauquachin, and Malahat Nations—to be the beneficiary and successor to the North Saanich and South Saanich Treaties of 1852. 

The statement acknowledges that W̱SÁNEĆ people and the governments view the treaties differently—BC and Canada have long maintained that the treaties were land purchase agreements, while W̱SÁNEĆ oral histories hold that the treaties were to resolve disputes and establish peaceful relationships with settlers without giving up the majority of their land. 

Treaty language disputes

Disagreements about the language in the treaties have persisted since their creation. The treaties were negotiated orally, with signatories signing a blank piece of paper and Douglas adding the written portion after the fact, according to the Te'mexw Treaty Association, a non-profit that negotiates treaty rights for five Coast Salish groups, including Songhees and Malahat. 

The North and South Saanich treaties state that W̱SÁNEĆ members maintain ownership of their villages and enclosed fields and the “liberty to hunt over unoccupied lands” and the right to “carry on their fisheries as formerly.” However, the treaty also says that the majority of land would be “the entire property of the white people for ever [sic].” 

First Nations on the Island have taken issue with this language, saying it does not capture the oral agreements—particularly the complete and permanent sale of their lands. However, the treaties are also the only legal documents protecting First Nations’ rights. 

The signed statement announced this week acknowledges the different perspectives of the written and oral treaties and that “a lack of government recognition and understanding of W̱SÁNEĆ’s oral history and W̱SÁNEĆ’s view of the spirit and intent of the North Saanich and South Saanich Treaties resulted in negative impacts.”

Read the full story here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🚵 Langford opens ‘Flipside’, its 14th trail at the Gravity Zone and Nature Trails Park

📸 Postcards from WWI: A massive crowd sees off the first group of Victoria soldiers as they set sail on the SS Princess Sophia for training in 1914. [Facebook photo]

🌱 Discover the beauty and benefits of native plants at Swan Lake's Native Plant Workshops. Workshops start soon—reserve your spot today!*

🕌 Ramadan began last night and runs until March 29. [BC Gov.]

 *Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

Semi truck takes up whole Malahat in u-turn video 
BC's Commercial Vehicle Safety & Enforcement is investigating the Friday maneuver, caught on DriveBC road cam, which the president of BC Trucking called “inexplicable,” “incomprehensible,” and “irresponsible.” [CHEK]

Colwood weighs ban on new car lots along Island Highway strip 
A bylaw would attempt to shift the municipality’s entranceway away from the “strip-mall, car-lot fiasco”—which Coun. Ian Ward describes it as—and toward high-density residential. Existing dealerships would be given legal non-conforming status as long they remain constantly in use (no more than a 6-month pause). [Times Colonist]

More ‘Buy BC’ ads planned, Eby says while announcing Delta tomatoes deal
The premier also said Oak Bay MLA Diana Gibson is talking to other provinces about a “mutual recognition agreement” in which products approved in one would be auto-approved in others. [CP]

🗓️ Things to do

👚 Mean Girls the Musical High School Version: See the high school-friendly version of this musical performed by talented and entertaining GNS students. Glenlyon Norfolk School. March 5-8. [Info]

🎵 Colin James: The Regina-born rock, swing, and bluesman brings his Chasing the Sun tour to Victoria. Royal Theatre. Mon. 8pm. [Info]

📚 Open House: Undergraduate Studies at RRU. Explore Royal Roads University's new undergraduate programs at the Dogwood Auditorium. Engage with faculty, staff, and alumni through interactive sessions, enjoy a complimentary lunch, and tour the historic Hatley Castle and gardens. Royal Roads. Today. 9am. [Info]

🖼️ Remembering Emily Carr: Carr House will host a special event in honour of the 80th anniversary of the artist’s death—which is tomorrow—with music, tea, and artwork. Today. 10am-3pm. [Info]

🎻 Launch Party: Max Francis. The 13-year-old BC fiddle champion is joined by an all-star lineup, including Daniel Lapp, Adam Dobres, and Adrian Dolan, to perform music from Home, Francis’s first full-length album of original compositions. The Mint. Tomorrow. 2pm. [Info] 

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

🎭 The Prom: St. Michael's University School proudly presents a cast, crew, and orchestra of grade 9-12 students in their version of the hit Broadway musical. McPherson Playhouse. Today. 2pm & 7:30pm. [Info]

🪕 Oliver Swain presents: Big Machine: Join Oliver Swain and his ensemble—featuring Ashley Wey, Tyler Lieb, and Glenna Garramone—for an evening of eclectic and soulful music. Hermann's. Tonight. 7pm. [Info] 

🎶 Music Bingo: Test your knowledge of music at Browns Crafthouse in Vic West. Tonight. 8pm. [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. Tonight. 8pm. [Info]

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

👀 In Case You Missed It

Friday’s headlines: VicPD seeks another budgetary hike; Stolen vehicle reports double on the Westshore; No man’s an island, but it’s cheaper than buying a home in Victoria. [Feb. 28]

Best fine dining in Victoria—as voted by you! [Tasting Victoria]

A Mart Korean Grocery on Yates closes after 20 years.

Provincial parks no longer ‘state parks’ on Google Maps after backlash. [Victoria Buzz]

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