{"id":1954,"date":"2026-10-09T20:59:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T03:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alliforsaanich.ca\/?page_id=1954"},"modified":"2026-10-09T22:18:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T05:18:49","slug":"governance-public-accountability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alliforsaanich.ca\/?page_id=1954","title":{"rendered":"Governance & Public Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MY THOUGHTS<\/span><\/p>\n

GOVERNANCE & PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Listening early. Making thoughtful decisions. Being accountable to you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Good governance starts with understanding who you serve. Residents deserve representatives who come prepared, listen respectfully, explain their decisions and follow through.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Through my elected board and executive roles with provincial-wide conservation organizations, I have worked on operational budgets, audits, strategic planning, and policy. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Those responsibilities involve balancing immediate needs with long-term commitments, asking difficult questions and making decisions alongside people with different perspectives.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They also involve accountability to the members we represent. Building relationships with fellow directors, staff, members and community partners has taught me that leadership requires both sound judgment and an ongoing connection to the people affected by decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I would bring that experience to Saanich Council. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Commitment<\/span><\/span>Advocate consultation while decisions can still be shaped. Explain significant votes and how public feedback was considered. Connect strategic priorities with budgets and public progress reporting.<\/span><\/span><\/use><\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Give residents a meaningful voice<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Public consultation should begin while there is still room to shape a decision. Residents need understandable information about the problem being addressed, the options available, their costs and the trade-offs. Participation should be accessible to people who cannot attend an evening meeting or spend hours reading technical reports.<\/span><\/p>\n

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I would work toward:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  • Earlier engagement on major proposals<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Clear summaries of options, costs and anticipated impacts<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Opportunities to hear from affected neighbourhoods and groups whose perspectives may otherwise be missed<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Reporting back on what Council heard, what changed and why a decision was made<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Listening does not mean promising everyone their preferred outcome. It means taking their concerns seriously and explaining how they were considered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Connect strategic plans with budgets and results<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    My governance experience has reinforced that a strategic plan needs clear priorities, realistic resources and a way to measure progress.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Council should understand how each major initiative fits within Saanich\u2019s broader commitments. Approving a goal also means considering the staffing, funding and infrastructure needed to achieve it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    I would ask whether proposed spending advances an agreed priority, what other work it affects and how success will be assessed. Regular progress reviews should help Council identify delays, respond to changing circumstances and adjust when results fall short.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Residents should be able to follow the connection between what Council promised, what it funded and what it delivered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Come prepared and exercise independent judgment<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    I would read the material, seek clarification and consider the evidence before making decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Staff expertise is essential to good government. Council also has a responsibility to examine recommendations, understand alternatives and ask questions about assumptions, costs and community impacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    I would listen to disagreement as well as support, and remain willing to change my position when better information warrants it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Build productive relationships<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Serving on a board has taught me the importance of working constructively with colleagues while maintaining independent judgment. People can disagree on a proposal and still work together effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Relationships with members and stakeholders are equally important. They help bring forward concerns that may not appear in a report and provide insight into how decisions work in practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    On Council, I would maintain an open dialogue with residents, neighbourhood associations, businesses, community organizations and regional partners. I would seek common ground, treat people respectfully and explain where differences remain.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Respect the roles of Council and staff<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Council\u2019s role is to establish priorities, approve policy and budgets, and hold municipal administration accountable for results. Staff need clear direction and the ability to carry out their operational responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    I would focus on setting clear expectations, asking informed questions and monitoring outcomes. When residents raise recurring concerns, I would seek appropriate follow-up and clear communication through the responsible channels.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Make accountability visible<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Residents should understand how and why their representatives make decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    I would explain my reasoning on significant issues, acknowledge trade-offs and be transparent about relevant conflicts of interest. Where information must remain confidential, I would respect that obligation while supporting openness wherever possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Accountability also means acknowledging when an approach has not worked and supporting a correction. A vote is one step in the process; following the results matters too.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Represent all of Saanich<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Urban, suburban and rural communities have different needs. A decision that works in one neighbourhood may create challenges in another.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    I would consider those differences while weighing the interests of Saanich as a whole. My responsibility would be to serve residents across the municipality, including people who disagree with me or did not vote for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    How this connects to my priorities<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    Community Driven<\/strong> means residents have a meaningful voice and can see how their input was considered. <\/span>Responsible Leadership<\/strong> means preparation, clear priorities and accountability for results. <\/span>Families First<\/strong> and <\/span>Protect What Makes Saanich Home<\/strong> provide the long-term perspective: making decisions today that support the community future generations will inherit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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