Municipal Elections...Yawn? Two Upcoming Town Halls!

Larger agendas do or do not happen ONLY because of your local government!

(picture from Chemainus Residence Association meeting agenda)

Social media will only ramp up in the next month regarding the federal elections, where you’ll be spammed with memes from both sides and biased media from all angles. It can be exhausting, and frankly, a waste of time arguing with folks online, expecting anyone to change their minds or their “teams.”

But why do provincial and federal elections draw so many more people into engagement, and out to vote, than local elections do? Is it the draw of that “team sport” feeling? The Canucks versus the San Jose Sharks - Liberals versus Conservatives?

Local elections have less glitz, glamour, and drama, with smaller “teams” to rally behind, but did you know that most of your federal and provincial “team’s” policies are implemented through a local vote?

This election sees a very important seat up for grabs, and depending on what changes you want to see in the next two years in your area, it’s extremely important to vote this round locally.

Though local politicians don’t run under a party and shouldn’t have close affiliations with parties, they’re only human and tend to lean certain ways (with a couple having very strong affiliations with a party). With Debra Toporowski vacating her council seat to move on to provincial politics, we’re left with, for the most part, a 3-to-3 vote on matters until the election. Take, for instance, the Sherman Rd. proposed bike lane brought before council last month: because it was a three-to-three vote, it was defeated. If Debra had been there, it would have passed. (We say this having attended or watched almost every council meeting since 2022 and never witnessed her vote against the Mayor or Cllr. Justice.)

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Two Upcoming All- Candidate Meetings:

TONIGHT (March 27th) 7pm - Seniors Center 9824 Willow St.

Saturday ( March 29th) 2pm Duncan Curling Club. 3191 Sherman Rd:

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There are larger federal agendas that work their way down to your local council to implement, such as 30x30, which our Mayor has mentioned a few times. This begs the question: how many goals and policies are truly local, and will the next councillor focus locally or on larger agendas?

We know many plans in the pipeline by reading North Cowichan’s roadmaps to 2030/2050. One such plan, mentioned in our climate policies, was sent to council in 2023 by a councillor from up North Island, suggesting they accelerate it earlier than 2026/27 proposed implementation. This policy would require owners to retrofit their older homes to meet the current step code, starting with homes built before 1980. How could they make you do this, you might wonder? Well, the northern councillor mentioned a plan that involves the municipality giving your property a loan for the retrofitting. This would mean that, say, your $100,000 retrofit would become a loan attached to your property - so if you went to sell, your property would cost the current market value plus whatever’s left on the loan. This policy could also become mandatory to sell your home (meaning it might need to be up to step code to sell) or could lead to higher taxes if not retrofitted. There are many ways they could enforce this - and why? Because single-family homes have been demonised by the powers that be, falsely, as one of the worst polluters in emissions. This would be a “climate” vote.

More bike lanes? More focus on roads? More taxes for climate? More restrictions on taxation? More local grants? More asking NGOs to look elsewhere? More social programs for the drug-dependent? More strict bylaws?

Voting locally, in many people’s opinions, can actually affect your day-to-day life even more than your Federal Vote.

We had AI break down each councillor’s voting records and feed us their “leanings” on policy, so you can listen to the candidates at the two meetings coming up and make your decision on who aligns best with your hopes for North Cowichan’s future. We gave AI unfettered access to all local news sources, a year of policy voting records, and X.

AI: “For those navigating local elections, understanding the policy leanings of council members can guide your vote, regardless of your priorities. Below is an AI-generated breakdown of the current council, detailing who sits in these roles and how they align on key issues like climate policy, fiscal responsibility, and development.

Mayor Douglas: Identifies a strong alignment with climate-focused narratives, consistently supporting initiatives like the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Master Transportation Plan. This mayor sits on the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) board and endorses Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. An NDP supporter, Mayor Douglas advocates for the Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP) tax, though occasional scepticism toward budget and spending decisions suggests a nuanced fiscal stance.

Councillor Istace: Analysis reveals a staunch commitment to climate policies, with a particular emphasis on expanding bike lanes. This councillor has pushed for tax increases beyond the 2025 voter-approved levels, citing future infrastructure needs, and supports groups like Revolve Cowichan—evidenced by attendance at a rally opposing women who criticised men in women’s spaces. A CVRD board member, Cllr. Istace also backs DEI initiatives.

Councillor Justice: is flagged as having a rigid adherence to climate change policies and the OCP, alongside membership on the CVRD board. Cllr. Justice opposes development outside Urban Containment Boundaries (UCB), arguing that single-family homes in such areas strain infrastructure budgets.

Councillor Findlay: This councillor stands out as fiscally conservative, prioritising financial responsibility over climate agendas. Noted is Cllr. Findlay’s advocacy for single-family home construction alongside apartments and a votes against expenditures like the new electric garbage truck, reflecting a belief that climate change should rank lower on the local priority list, especially during hard financial times.

Councillor Manhas: Similarly focused on fiscal restraint, Cllr. Manhas previously served on the CVRD board but was voted off by Cllrs. Istac, Justice, Toporowski, and Mayor Douglas, as it was stated that people who vote the same would be more effective on the CVRD board. His tendency is to deprioritise climate change policies when pursuing tax reductions.

Councillor Caljouw: Leaning toward fiscal responsibility, Cllr. Caljouw tends to favour local policies over expansive climate agendas, suggesting a pragmatic approach to governance. However, Cllr. Caljouw does show inconsistent voting when DEI or social topics are brought to the floor.

This AI-driven analysis offers a clear lens into council dynamics, helping voters align their preferences—whether for climate action, fiscal prudence, or balanced growth—with the right candidates.”

Right now, votes are basically ending in ties, suggesting this seat up for grabs is vitally important. Who will you vote for? A candidate who will help Mayor Douglas, Cllr. Istace, and Cllr. Justice move their policies forward? Or will you elect that seventh position with a councillor who leans more toward Cllr. Findlay, Cllr. Manhas, and Cllr. Caljouw?

Meet the candidates link HERE

Advance Voting Opportunities

Advance voting opportunities will be conducted on April 2 and 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the North Cowichan Municipal Hall, at 7030 Trans-Canada Highway.

By-Election Voting Day (Saturday, April 12, 8am-8pm) locations:

• Municipal Hall, 7030 Trans-Canada Highway , North Cowichan

• Chemainus Fire Hall, 9901 Chemainus Road, Chemainus

• Crofton Fire Hall, 1681 Robert Street, Crofton

• Maple Bay Fire Hall, 1230 Maple Bay Road, North Cowichan

• Cowichan Community Centre – Multi-Purpose Hall, 2687 James Street, North Cowichan

Sincerely,

Team COAP