Long-serving Saanich councillors say mounting public frustration over provincial land-use changes and the removal of most public hearings helped set the scene for recent election upsets that saw established voices on council vote out or step aside.
Council cut out of key decisions, councillors say
Judy Brownoff, who served Saanich on and off for 33 years, described the shift as profound and demoralizing. She told reporters the changes began to register with residents during the pandemic and deepened after the provincial government introduced measures in 2023 aimed at accelerating housing construction.
The legislation, commonly referred to as Bill 44, brought rules that municipal councillors say significantly limited their authority and curtailed avenues for public input. Brownoff said the erosion of local control and the removal of routine public hearings left councillors unable to respond to community concerns — and ultimately contributed to a backlash against incumbents.
“That just did me in. I really believe you get better decisions with good public engagement. When you don’t have it, there’s the fear of what are you creating?”
She added councillors were “left feeling a little helpless” after the province dictated elements of land-use planning, and that residents directed their anger at municipal governments even when council authority had been reduced.
What changed under provincial rules
Council members have pointed to several concrete effects of the 2023 changes that altered local planning decisions. Among the outcomes they cite are requirements that allow multiple units on lots historically zoned for single-family homes, restrictions on municipal parking requirements in certain areas, and limits on when public hearings may be held.
- Four to six units allowed on single-family and duplex lots in many circumstances.
- Public hearings for most new development were removed, except in narrow situations.
- Municipal discretion over some parking requirements in transit-oriented locations was curtailed.
The measures, designed to speed housing delivery, have provoked concern among residents and some councillors about tree loss, neighbourhood character and the perception that local voices no longer matter.
| Issue | Effect cited |
|---|---|
| Units per lot | Allowing four to six units on lots previously zoned single-family or duplex |
| Public hearings | Elimination for most new development; hearings only in specific circumstances |
| Parking requirements | Council unable to require parking in some transit-oriented developments |
Local consequences and political fallout
For councillors who have long emphasised community engagement, the changes were painful to reconcile with their day-to-day roles. Brownoff said the loss of public consultation fuelled fear and resentment in parts of the community, and that residents often blamed council even when the authority now rested with provincial rules.
She said the decline in civic interaction began during the pandemic, when both residents and the municipality pulled back from in-person engagement. The subsequent provincial legislation, she said, accelerated a breakdown in trust.
Though Brownoff initially leaned toward not running for re-election, she filed her nomination on the final day at the urging of residents. The election that followed marked her first-ever defeat after decades of service.
Looking ahead
Councillors’ accounts underscore a persistent tension between provincial housing goals and local governance. For Saanich residents, the debate touches on housing supply, neighbourhood character, tree canopy and democratic participation. How the municipality adapts — and how residents and elected officials rebuild engagement channels — will shape local policy for years to come.
As the new council prepares to take over, the questions raised by long-serving councillors about the limits of municipal power and the need for meaningful public input remain central to civic life in Saanich.
