Victoria’s mayor and city manager met with federal ministers during a quick visit to Ottawa this week, discussing everything from affordable housing to transit.
Mayor Lisa Helps and city manager Jocelyn Jenkyns arrived Sunday and had 12 meetings over Monday and Tuesday before returning to Victoria late Tuesday.
This month, Victoria city council approved anticipated costs of $2,043 for Helps to visit the country’s capital. The goal was to discuss Victoria’s priorities and areas where the two governments could collaborate.
“We’ve got good relationships with this government,” said Helps in a phone interview from Ottawa, noting Minister of Middle Class Prosperity Mona Fortier was the only minister she didn’t already know. “Relationships are everything.”
Helps said she spoke to Adam Vaughan, Canada’s parliamentary secretary for housing, about the federal strategy to address homelessness as well as the capital region’s Regional Housing First and Reaching Home programs.
The meeting was important, she said, as the region needs another $10 million from Ottawa to reach its target of 2,000 units of affordable and rental housing, including 400 units that rent at $375 per month for people currently living on the streets.
Helps also spoke with Minister of Economic Development Melanie Joly about Victoria’s draft economic action plan for 2020-2041, and with Minister of Transport Marc Garneau on the future of oceans, job creation and sustainability.
On Tuesday, Helps met with Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna and discussed, among other things, the replacement of Crystal Pool and investments in transit, noting that B.C. Transit plans to transition to zero-emission electric buses starting in 2023.
“We want to make her aware of that and let her know that … we’re happy to pilot it and do anything that might move that timeline more quickly.”
Victoria’s mayor said she didn’t go to Ottawa expecting commitments or cheques, but did receive good insights and feedback. “It was very high-energy and very positive,” said Helps.
