And now the Airport's lawyer is writing to North Saanich Council

 As reported in today's Times Colonist and CHEK TV, the airport’s lawyer sent a letter to council seeking to clarify Mayor Peter Jones’s comment about setting fire to something at the airport. This is all related to the North Saanich Council's inclusion of the Airport in its Official Community Plan (OCP). The airport sits on federal land, not district land, and so should not have been included in the OCP. The mayor, Peter Jones, made an offhand remark, which he called a joke, that offended the Airport Authority. 

When the OCP was passed at the District Council meeting, several Councillors were concerned with the inclusion of the airport. The Airport Authority subsequently asked that the OCP be amended to remove the Airport.

Once again, this mayor has put our community in the spotlight and not in a good way. The mayor should represent the values and interests of our community. They should be an upstanding representative and should shine a light on us that shows the nature of our community--a nature of cooperation, professionalism, and neighbourliness. We deserve better.

The full Times Colonist article can be found here: Heated talk: Transport Canada irked with North Saanich in airport land tussle

And the CHEK TV article here: North Saanich mayor’s comments trigger Victoria Airport Authority’s lawyers

Is the North Saanich District Council Dysfunctional?

 I remember early in its term, North Saanich Council was lumped in with Harrison Hot Springs and Kamloops as dysfunctional councils. I have been 'playing' with AI of late, and when I asked this question, Chat GPT replied with this (note the first-person reply!):

There’s credible evidence that many people believe the North Saanich council is exhibiting signs of dysfunction — though whether it is “dysfunctional” overall depends on how one defines that term. I’ll lay out some of the issues raised, what people are saying, and then give a rough assessment.

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Issues & Complaints

Here are several recurring criticisms and conflicts involving North Saanich council:

1. Pickleball court controversy
• The council closed the Wain Park courts due to noise complaints, then later rejected motions to reopen them with sound mitigation, despite community pushback. Saanich News+3Times Colonist+3Chek News+3
• Some residents accuse the council of favouring a few complainants over the broader public interest. NS News+1
• There have been legal threats from community groups arguing the decision process lacked sufficient public input. Saanich News+1
2. Transparency, process, and public engagement concerns
• A planning consultant (Modus) resigned, citing a misalignment between what the public had expressed in engagement exercises, and the direction that council / advisor committees appeared to want. Times Colonist
• Critics (letters, etc.) have alleged that the council is operating with less openness, using private conversations, or restricting which voices are heard. Peninsula News Review+2Saanich News+2
3. Housing target issues
• North Saanich is at risk of missing provincially mandated housing targets; in one case, the first year target was 60 units, and only 6 net-new units were delivered. Vic News+1
• The province has expressed concern over “insufficient detail” in the district’s plans, and the council rejected some attempts to discuss or debate the minister’s letter on the subject. Times Colonist+1
4. Staff turnover, governance concerns
• The Chief Administrative Officer resigned, and there was a large severance/offer to leave ($300,000) amid what was called “ongoing turmoil” related to the official community plan (OCP). Times Colonist+2Times Colonist+2
• Other senior staff associated with the planning process also left. Times Colonist
5. Concerns over respect, civility, and decision-making
• There have been claims of “autocratic” decision-making, emails/public meeting conduct that some feel marginalize councillors or members of the public. Saanich News+1
• A former councillor resigned after an incident in which he called the mayor “Mr. Hitler,” which he said followed frustrations about how meetings and decisions were being handled. CFJC Today Kamloops

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What This Suggests

Based on what’s reported, some patterns emerge:

• Polarization & conflict over key issues (housing, community planning, recreation amenities).
• Process complaints are common: people saying they aren’t being heard, that committee or consultation work is undermined or redirected, that decisions have been made without apparent openness.
• High stakes: legal, financial, reputational — e.g. lawsuits threatened, large sums spent or offered, consultant contracts broken.
• Tension between premium public expectations and “rural character” / resistance to change. Many residents seem to prefer little densification; others want more housing. The council seems to be in a difficult spot balancing these.

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So, is it “Dysfunctional”?

If by “dysfunctional” one means:

• difficulty in making binding or broadly accepted decisions;
• breakdowns in communication;
• lack of trust from parts of the public;
• inability to meet external obligations (e.g. housing targets);
• frequent conflict or procedural irregularities —

then yes, there are real signs that parts of the council are functioning poorly, especially around public engagement, process, and balancing competing priorities.

However, it’s not obvious the council is wholly nonfunctional. It is still making decisions, still engaging in planning (though contentiously), still has governance structures in place, etc.

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Assessment

North Saanich council appears to be in a state of strained governance. It is facing growing pains: conflicts over development vs rural identity, procedural transparency, and public trust are undermining its ability to act smoothly. Some of its failings are in fulfilling provincially mandated targets (housing), and in handling contentious community issues without alienation.

It’s not an outlier — many municipalities in B.C. are dealing with very similar tensions (see reports on increasing municipality-level dysfunction across the province).

 

Post office is a service, not a business

The ongoing labour strife has got me thinking about what we want from government and what government should provide through our taxes. Should the government offload costly services into so-called business ventures to ease its deficits? Can we afford the same services we've always had? 

Rural communities can be impacted heavily when services are lost. Seniors and those on fixed incomes, too, are often hurt when services are cut. While thinking about this, I sent a letter to the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper. It was published on the 2nd of October:

Contrary to what the media and government may say, the post office did not “lose” $841 million last year.

The post office is a service.

The cost to taxpayers for this service can be debated as to whether it is worth it or not, but the services are there for the public good. Commodifying them is simply a way for governments to fudge their figures. Just like B.C. Ferries, services like the post office, should not be seen as a money maker or loser.

We don’t say the Armed Forces lose money.

We don’t say the RCMP, water works, or highways lose money.

Services have a cost. Whether we are prepared to pay for them is the question, not whether they are profitable.

Times Colonist

One Year Away

 The next district election is just over a year away. A lot has happened over the past four years. An almost complete turnover on the North Saanich Council. A new Official Community Plan (OCP). Some controversial reversals. Some confrontations at the council meetings.

Will the OCP restrict or encourage growth? Will North Saanich retain its rural ambience? Will the CRD (Capital Regional District) dictate the terms of growth, or will our elected Council manage the changes that are to come?

I will be watching carefully what transpires over the next 12 months. Will we see another turnover, or will this Council continue in the same way they have for the past term? 

This is our community. Good governance is important. Financial management is important. Respectful dialogue is important. Local decision-making is important. Twelve months is a long time, but the election will be here before we know it.

A Legacy of Service to our Parks and Environment

 Stuart Mackinnon, former Commissioner and Chair of Vancouver’s Park Board, spearheaded several initiatives aimed at reconciliation, sustainability, accessibility, and humane urban management:

 1. Indigenous Reconciliation & “Truth‑Telling”

·                  Colonial audit & apology (2018): Mackinnon led the Park Board in conducting a “colonial audit” that documented past injustices—such as displacement and burial‑site disturbances—against the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil‑Waututh Nations. The board acknowledged its colonial role and formally apologized to the Nations.

·                  Traditional Indigenous naming (2018): He introduced a motion urging the board to work with Indigenous communities to identify and integrate traditional place names (co‑naming or renaming parks and beaches).

·                  Co‑management of parklands (2022): As board chair, Mackinnon passed a landmark motion directing staff to collaborate with the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil‑Waututh Nations to define and pursue co‑management arrangements for Vancouver parklands.

 2. Environmental Stewardship & Animal Welfare

·                  Banned Cetaceans in captivity (2017). After nearly 40 years of advocacy, Commissioner Mackinnon led the Board in banning captive cetaceans from Vancouver parks.

·                  Humane pest control (2019): He successfully pushed for the Park Board to explore adopting BC SPCA’s AnimalKind standards in rodent and wildlife control, minimizing unintentional harm to non‑target species like owls and dogs.

·                  East Fraser Lands park creation (2019): As Chair, Mackinnon led the opening of Neighbourhood Park South—a nearly 0.33 ha green space in a developing waterfront community—emphasizing biodiversity, native planting, and public amenity.

 3. Accessibility & Active Transport

·                  Reimagining vehicle access in Stanley Park (2020): Mackinnon introduced a motion (co‑sponsored by Commissioner Irwin) for staff to study the feasibility of reducing Stanley Park Drive to one car lane year‑round, freeing space for walkers, cyclists, and people with limited mobility.

 

 4. Long‑Term Equity & Infrastructure Planning

·                  VanPlay strategic plan (2019): Mackinnon backed the citywide parks and recreation master plan, VanPlay—a 25‑year vision focused on equitable park access, using geospatial data to identify underserved neighbourhoods and guide investment.

·                  Capital investment (2019): As board chair, he helped to unanimously pass a $399 million, 3‑year capital plan (2019–22) to upgrade infrastructure, expand parkland—such as Marpole community centre and Fraser‑River green spaces—and renew aging facilities.

 5. Leadership & Governance

·                  Multiple terms & leadership roles: Mackinnon has been elected Commissioner in 2008–11, 2014–18, 2018–22, serving as Board Chair in 2017–18, 2018–19, and again in 2021–22. His governance priorities included ecological sustainability, climate action, biodiversity, active transportation, reconciliation, and inclusive public spaces.

 

Stuart Mackinnon left a notable legacy through his long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, public access, and community engagement.

🌿 Environmental Advocacy

·                  He was a consistent voice for preserving and enhancing Vancouver’s green spaces.

·                  He emphasized park maintenance, conservation, and ecological sustainability, often advocating for parks to remain pristine and accessible to all.

🏛️ Public Service and Leadership

·                  He served multiple terms as a Park Board Commissioner: 2008–2011, 2014–2018, and 2018–2022.

·                  Known for being well-prepared and deeply informed, he earned respect for his thoughtful approach to policy and governance.

🤝 Community-Centred Approach

·                  Mackinnon championed strong partnerships with community centre associations, opposing efforts that undermined their autonomy.

·                  He believed these associations were the “heart of our neighbourhoods” and should be treated as collaborators, not adversaries.

🌸 Broader Civic Involvement

·                  Beyond the Park Board, he contributed to civic life as a Trustee of the Vancouver Public Library and a Governor of the VanDusen Botanical Garden Association. 

His legacy is one of thoughtful stewardship, grassroots advocacy, and a deep belief in the power of public spaces to build community

 

These accomplishments highlight his role as a thoughtful, progressive leader who blends environmental stewardship, social justice, and inclusive planning in public park governance.

North Saanich and surrounding areas through my photographs

 To enjoy pictures of my wandering throughout the region join my Instagram account: nsruralbynature

A New Beginning

 After a 40-year absence, I have returned to Vancouver Island. My years at the University of Victoria were spent more outdoors than in the classroom. Exploring the backroads and pathways throughout the Saanich peninsula captured my imagination far more than the lectures I was supposed to attend. Rural Saanich had much to offer then and now. Though North Saanich has grown tremendously in the past 40 years, it continues to offer a rural lifestyle close to every amenity possible. 

In this new blog, I will explore some of the beautiful parks and byways in North Saanich and the surrounding areas, including Central Saanich, Sidney-by-the-Sea, Saanich, Victoria, the Western Communities, and even further afield, up island and onto the Gulf Islands. 

Through photos and essays, I will look at the changing nature of the area as urbanization spreads to suburban and rural areas. How North Saanich adapts to these changes, and how change might be managed and mitigated, will be explored through my experiences in civic government, environmentalism, and 25 years of parks and natural areas advocacy [you can find more about that at: betterparks.ca].

Growth is inevitable; how we manage that growth will determine whether North Saanich becomes just another bedroom community of the Capital Regional District, or continues to be a rural community with room for density. My love of North Saanich is because it is rural by nature.