Ask any mayor on Vancouver Island about what they would like to see in 2023 and they’ll generally tell you the same thing.
"More housing and more affordable housing," said Marianne Alto, the Mayor of Victoria, in an interview with CTV News at the end of 2022.
The housing crisis is hard to ignore. Too few homes are being built and what is out there has become too expensive for many. Meanwhile, rents continue to climb due to low inventory.
In Victoria, there are other issues that the mayor would like to tackle in the upcoming year.
"To accelerate now our planning for dealing with what is inevitably permanent extreme weather conditions," said Alto.
That includes developing a better plan when it comes to how the city responds to extreme weather events.
That could include added municipal resources or possible infrastructure projects – such as offering shade during extreme heat events and shelter during snow events.
"What that looks like, I don’t know, and obviously we would be looking for a variety of architectural designs and advice," said Alto.
The mayor would also like to see planning move forward on three major projects in the city: The Ship Point Project, Crystal Pool and a new public library.
She hopes each of the projects will be completed over the upcoming four-year term.
SAANICH, B.C.
Meanwhile, housing is top of the list in Saanich as well.
"My resolution would be to work with affordable housing providers, BC Housing, other non-profits, to create more affordable housing in Saanich," said Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock on Friday.
The mayor of that municipality is thinking outside the box.
"Ideally, I think we can open-up Saanich-owned properties in order to create affordable housing in Saanich," he said.
Historically, that has not happened in Saanich, says Murdock.
"We haven’t used Saanich-held properties in the past so that would definitely be a shift in policy and direction," he said.
Saanich, B.C. is shown.Road safety is another major goal for Murdock in 2023. That includes sidewalks where there aren’t any, protected bike lanes and crosswalk expansions and improvements.
"For me that’s a high priority," said Murdock. "Making sure everyone can get around in our community safely."
NANAIMO, B.C.
In the Mid-Island, Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog says he's focused on a number of major projects that have been kicked around for years.
"I’m optimistic that this is the year that we’ll start to see some real progress," he said.
"Those projects include a new Nanaimo operations centre, the expansion of the police station – of course the waterfront walkway that has been long talked about – and the redevelopment of the downtown, including 1 Port Drive," he said.
Nanaimo is one of the five fastest growing municipal areas in the country. The mayor says it is time to move those projects forward.
Nanaimo, B.C., is pictured. (CTV News)
COURTENAY, B.C.
In Courtenay, Mayor Bob Wells says there are "a ton" of projects the municipality wants to complete.
"Lots of infrastructure projects, things to do with housing and unhoused folks, and all those kinds of things that I think are fairly similar across our region and really the nation," he said.
In the Mid-Island community, housing and housing affordability are once again top-of-mind.
There is one project that has been sitting on the books for a couple of decades now that Wells wants to see become a reality once and if federal and provincial grants are approved for it.
"[The project] is our Sixth Street pedestrian bridge," said Wells. "It will be a [mixed-use bridge] that will basically connect east and west Courtenay, bringing some vibrancy to our downtown."
He added that the bridge would create a safer route for cyclists.
"Really, if you’re riding your bikes across the existing bridges that we have that were built quite a few decades ago – they were never designed for cyclists in mind for sure," said Wells.
One theme that underscored each mayor's message on Friday was that they believe 2023 could be a transformative year for their municipality.
Cape Breton University has more than doubled in size by enrolling thousands of international students, and critics say the campus and community weren't ready. Watch the documentary 'Cash Cow' on CTV W5, Saturday at 7 p.m.
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W5 profiles the man who makes the sounds for breaking bones and squealing tires in Hollywood’s biggest films; and he does it from a small town in Ontario. Watch 'Sound Farms' at 7 p.m. on CTV W5.
Statistics Canada has released its new report about the Canadians level of confidence in Canada’s institutions, finding that recent immigrants are more likely to express confidence in the media and parliament.
In a choice forced upon them by the Canadian government, four mothers have made the agonizing decision to forfeit an opportunity to repatriate their children from open air prisons in northeast Syria.
Lawyers representing Toronto MP Han Dong served Global News with a libel notice on Friday over reports that alleged he spoke to a Chinese diplomat in February 2021 about delaying the release of the two Michaels, and that he was a 'witting affiliate' of Chinese interference networks – allegations that Dong denies.
A recent report from Royal LePage is predicting a drop in prices for Canadian cabins and cottages this year as demand softens from economic uncertainty and low housing stock.
Officials in Vancouver said they plan to meet with the artist and volunteers who are keeping vigil on a children's shoe memorial on the steps of the city's art gallery in an effort to end the tribute to children who didn't return from residential schools.
A Brampton, Ont. man is under arrest after what is being described as a “troubling series of events” that saw female paramedics in Peel Region allegedly sexually assaulted and harassed.
The leader of Ontario's new democrats says she's removed long-time party member Michael Mantha from caucus amid an independent investigation into alleged workplace misconduct.
The United Conservative Party (UCP) of Alberta announced Saturday that Rajan Sawhney will run as a UCP candidate for Calgary North-West after announcing in February that she wouldn't be running for re-election in Calgary North-East.
Akwesasne Mohawk Police say they are working with Immigration Canada and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to confirm the identities of the eight migrants whose bodies were pulled from the St. Lawrence River this week.
April Fools' Day -- better known as poisson d'Avril in Quebec -- is upon us. Some of the province's familiar faces got into the spirit Saturday with a few light-hearted social media pranks.
After the RCMP commissioner admitted he didn't read the Mass Casualty Commission’s final recommendations, family members of those killed in the April 2020 tragedy say they have doubts the force will change.
Cape Breton University has more than doubled in size by enrolling thousands of international students, and critics say the campus and community weren't ready. Watch the documentary 'Cash Cow' on CTV W5, Saturday at 7 p.m.
A doctor named in a lawsuit after a Nova Scotia woman died in hospital following a long wait to see a physician has denied allegations from the family that he failed in his duties.
The sale has started of former Saskatchewan government liquor store buildings. The province got out of liquor retailing earlier this month and is disposing of all assets.
In an attempt to take pressure off hospital emergency rooms, the Saskatchewan government will offer a bump in pay for family doctors who work later hours.
The leader of Ontario's new democrats says she's removed long-time party member Michael Mantha from caucus amid an independent investigation into alleged workplace misconduct.
In an attempt to take pressure off hospital emergency rooms, the Saskatchewan government will offer a bump in pay for family doctors who work later hours.
Cape Breton University has more than doubled in size by enrolling thousands of international students, and critics say the campus and community weren't ready. Watch the documentary 'Cash Cow' on CTV W5, Saturday at 7 p.m.
A northern Ontario man has been banned from licenced hunting and fined $5,000 after pleading guilty to having more than six times the legal limit of grouse and obstructing conservation officers.
Saanich, B.C. is shown.Road safety is another major goal for Murdock in 2023. That includes sidewalks where there aren’t any, protected bike lanes and crosswalk expansions and improvements.
Nanaimo, B.C., is pictured. (CTV News)
