Make no mistake: today is pivotal. Today, local elected leaders from across the country met to underscore the urgent need for nation-building, not nation-burning policies. Now's the time to say #Elbowsupforclimate Read the Joint Statement and Press Release here: elbowsupforclimate.ca

Folks are sharing their stories from across Canada, how are municipalities and their residents being impacted by climate? @votetanille.bsky.social shared the loss of traditional medicines and food systems. Coun Hall from Jasper AB talking about having her home burn down. I almost cried.

At the Elbows Up for Climate conference in Edmonton. Listening Seth Klein speak. One hour of dialogue so far has been awesome. Climate activism runs on granola bars and existential dread. The fossil fuel lobby runs on petro-$$$ and sociopathic denial of the biggest crisis in our history.

In #YEG for the next few days for #FCM2026. Spending the day with friends @climatecaucus.bsky.social to talk about how we maintain Elbows Up for Climate. Lots of hope, solidarity, grief, knowledge in this room of elected colleagues from across the country.

📢 Apply to work the City of Victoria’s municipal election this fall. Positions available for advance voting days and general voting day. Includes paid training. Apply online by Sun. June 14, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. at victoria.ca/elections.

Everyone should read this article, especially the part where it says Israel wants a focus on "pro-Palestinian" protests and that Canada should curtail certain freedoms of Canadians. THIS. IS. FOREIGN. INFLUENCE. AND INTERFERENCE by Israel. Carney is a stooge. www.readthemaple.com/global-affai...

Wait, Hammond interrupts the concluding of the meeting to wish his dad a happy 96th birthday in Winnipeg.

That takes us to closed daytime Council, so that concludes this coverage. There is no Council next week due to FCM; I'm going to be in Edmonton for that, so I welcome tips for great independent bookstores, cafes, local croissants, or great rad alternative spaces/events. #yeg

Bylaw for Officers passes unanimously.

That takes us onto bylaws. Bylaw amendment pursuant to Bill 25 for Zoning Regulation Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw 2018. Gardiner: Notices were posted. The wording on the notice raised red flags. Want to confirm the intent of the bylaw change.

Daytime Council starts. Mayor Alto starts with a land acknowledgement. Consent agenda passes with 1784 Denman heritage designation, endorsement of funding and award applications, a CMM on strategies and resources to require cooling in rental buildings.

That concludes COTW. We are going to move into daytime Council.

Moving on to the Council Member Motion on increasing protections for Victoria renters. Thompson motivates in favour, referencing histories of downzoning and their impacts. While the vacancy rate in Vic is higher, people are still suffering.

Back from break. Caradonna attempts an amendment. "THAT COUNCIL CONFIRMS THAT, ASSUMING THE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT PROPOSES STRATIFIED HOUSING AND SUBJECT TO LEGAL AGREEMENTS, SEISMIC UPGRADES WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ACCEPTABLE AMENITY CONTRIBUTION."

Back from lunch to consider 900 Vancouver Street. It's a rezoning application for an entire city block, the Christ Church Cathedral. Coleman is starting by explaining why he is recusing himself from this decision.

Back from break. Onto land use matters. 530 Herald/533 Chatham rezoning and development permit with variances application. 6-storey mixed use residential in Old Town. 133 secured rental homes, 418m2 retail on Chatham, 687m2 pocket park/plaza, two public walkways.

Presentation today from BC Transit about the draft Victoria Regional Transit Plan Update.

COTW begins for May 28. Mayor Alto begins by grounding us in a land acknowledgment.

Reminder: If you’re using the Canadian Dental Care Plan you need to renew it by June 1st. 🪥 CDCP provides coverage over a single benefit period up to June 30, 2026. As a CDCP member, you must renew your coverage every year to confirm that you still meet the eligibility requirements.

Nah. Yours is now the party that welcomes fringe right wing Conservative MPs and drives away environmentalist Liberal MPs.

Today today today

The National Post is a regular read among at least one of my colleagues. When I realized that, a lot made suddenly made sense. Anyway, thanks for the cackle!

Also, come meet my friend Peter (they/them) at Commie Bop this evening, and get to know one of your municipal election candidates!

That takes us to the end of the open part of daytime Council, and we're moving into Closed. Hope to see y'all at the Commie Bop event later tonight!

We move onto "Bylaw for Officers," a report that's an amendment of the Officers Bylaw, which "proposes to establish Officer Positions for the City of Victoria." Staff: Minor change staff's requesting because of a typographical error. Amendment carries unanimously. It'll come back to Council later.

Daytime Council begins with Mayor Alto's land acknowledgment.

That concludes COTW. Converting over to daytime Council meeting.

Here we are for item H2, Hammond's CMM on options for age restrictions, retail access and storage controls of spray paint. "requesting staff report back with options for possible bylaw amendments or other measures to reduce unauthorized use of spray paint and similar graffiti implements."

Back from lunch and onto the second staff report. "A report seeking Council approval to renew the Tower Crane Rescue Services Agreement with The Town of Sidney for a five (5) year term."

Breaking for lunch until 1:15 PM.

That takes us to staff reports. First one is a "report requesting Council to appoint the Chief Election Officer and Deputy Chief Election Officers for the upcoming general local election, and to provide Council an overview of voter communications strategies."

Moving onto a development variance permit for 749 Douglas St "in order to install signage for the new Telus Ocean building and recommending that the application be approved."

We're back on the land use matter from before break. Gardiner: Disregard for OCP and DCAP come through with this application. This is beyond "build, build, build. It's "cast away the principles and values of the City."

Onto land use matters. 829-899 Fort St/846-858 Broughton St rezoning and development permit with variances applications. "in order to increase the density and allow multi-unit residential uses at this location and recommending that the application be declined."

Presentation slides from last week's Community Safety Wellbeing Plan update.

Council of the Whole for May 21 has begun with Mayor Alto's land acknowledgment.

#yyj #yyjpoli friends, come hang out with the newly formed Victoria Progressive Electors, a group of socialist comrades organizing for a better Victoria! I'll be taking tix @ the door. Tomorrow (Thurs May 21), 7-9 PM, The Mint downtown. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements about VPE....

<my wife and I at age 24> - “We’re living in the heart of LA, I’m probably going to the NFL, holy shit how is this our life???” <us now> - “Goddammit these city councilors suck ass”

🔥"Tenants need homes to live in, not slow cookers." Banger of a line from a Victoria Tenants' Union member speaking to Council this evening. Then sprinkles in some vacancy control advocacy, as a treat.

To oppose the wholesale dismantling of environmental regulations in Canada, please go to this page www.canada.ca/en/one-canad.... ignore the very leading 'proposed' questions and submit your comments. CC your MP. If you need inspiration here is what I just sent.

It blows my mind that BC requires landlords to provide adequate heat in rental units but not adequate cooling We're approaching the 5 year anniversary of the deadly heat dome and landlords can still (for the most part) bar tenants from installing cooling aids (A/C, blackout blinds, etc)

Scrub ahead to 52:00 for the start of the conversation. 1:11:00-ish for Coun Gardiner's questioning and self-produced slides. Video stream link: pub-victoria.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIS...

We go into closed Council now. There is an evening Council today, with some speakers from the public and one heritage designation. See y'all tonight.

New business. Temporary use permit application for 602 Esquimalt Road. Coleman: New correspondence come in on this expresses neighbours want time-dating. TUPs go up to 3 years and could be renewed, yes? Staff: Yes.

Welcome to daytime Council. Mayor Alto leads with a land acknowledgment.

That concludes COTW. Shifting into daytime Council.

Back from break on the cooling strategies and resources. Loughton: Those deaths that happened in James Bay during the heat dome, did those buildings get retrofitted? Staff: Don't know.

Onto new business, which is the cooling bylaw. Coun Dell shouts out @cape-bc.bsky.social and @nadinenakagawa.bsky.social as he begins introducing motion.

Land use matter for 1784 Denman heritage designation application was dealt with on consent agenda. Same with the staff report for endorsement of funding and award applications. Both will come back to us at a future daytime Council meeting.