A commentary by members of Livable Victoria, a group of local professionals who share a passion for making our region more sustainable, vibrant, healthy, and inclusive. Learn more at livablevictoria.ca.
The Victoria region is a great place to live, but unwelcoming for many people. We need leaders who will help us become more affordable, livable and inclusive.
Below are 10 reasons to vote in Saturday’s municipal election, particularly if you are younger, have a lower income or rent your home.
1. Voting increases your political influence. Politicians want to get re-elected, so they respond to voters’ concerns. In the past, younger and lower-income citizens voted at much lower rates than older, wealthier home-owners, reducing their power. If you want to influence policy makers, get out and vote.
2. We can become more affordable. Many current municipal policies favour expensive housing and transportation over more affordable alternatives. This can change. For example, zoning reforms can allow more lower-cost housing types, such as townhomes and low-rise apartments, in walkable neighbourhoods.
The research is clear: building more townhomes and apartments increases affordability. Even if the new units are initially too expensive for lower-income households, they increase overall affordability as some families move into them from lower-priced homes, making them available for new occupants.
For information see Daniel Herriges’s article The Connectedness of Our Housing Ecosystem, and the recent UCLA report The Effect of Market-Rate Development on Neighborhood Rents.
A good example is Montreal, an attractive and economically successful city where housing prices are a third lower than its peers. Why? Because Montreal allows compact housing in most neighbourhoods, creating abundant and affordable homes. To increase affordability, vote for candidates who support compact infill.
3. We can reduce homelessness. The new book Homelessness is a Housing Problem shows that the most effective way to reduce homelessness is to reduce rents and increase rental vacancy rates. To reduce homelessness, vote for candidates who will allow more moderate-priced rental housing.
4. We can increase opportunity. Research shows that economically disadvantaged families become more successful if they live in neighbourhoods with good access to jobs, services and schools. Vote for candidates who support economic opportunity.
5. We can strengthen our economy. High living costs make it difficult for businesses to attract employees and customers. Vote for candidates who support local industries.
6. We can have better transportation. Families living in walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented neighbourhoods save money, are healthier and have stronger community connections. Vote for candidates who support affordable and healthy travel options.
7. We can have a better environment. Residents of compact, multimodal neighbourhoods drive less, emit less pollution and pave much less land for roads and parking than in automobile-dependent areas. Vote for candidates who oppose sprawl development.
8. We can be more welcoming and vibrant. Our community can accommodate more people with disabilities, families with children, immigrants and artists if we build more diverse, lower-cost housing. Vote for candidates who support diversity.
9. We can prepare for the future. Even if you currently have a comfortable home and car, you may need different options in the future. Vote for candidates who will prepare for future contingencies.
10. You support democracy. Apathy and cynicism threaten democracy. Vote to show that you care about our community.
For more information:
Times Colonist 2022 Civic Election (timescolonist.com/ civic-election)
Livable Victoria Candidate’s Survey (livablevictoria.ca/ 2022survey)
Who can vote:
• Be 18 years of age or older on general voting day.
• Be a Canadian citizen.
• Have been a resident of B.C. for at least six months immediately before registering to vote.
• Be a resident of the municipality or electoral area on the day they register to vote.
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