Housing & Affordability
A home for every stage of life
Saanich should be a place where young people can get their start, families can put down roots, and seniors can stay in the community they love. Right now, too many people are being priced out.
Zac chaired the task force that developed Saanich's first Housing Strategy and has continued to push for faster approvals and stronger partnerships to get affordable homes built. As Chair of the Capital Region Housing Corporation, he helps lead the region's largest social housing provider. Non-market homes approved through Saanich’s development permit process rose from zero in 2023 to 314 in 2025. Affordability won’t come from the market alone, which is why Zac’s plan combines more housing choices, more non-market homes, and stronger protections for renters.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Build more affordable homes.
Advance CRHC 2045, the Capital Region Housing Corporation’s framework for up to 5,000 affordable rental homes by 2045, including homes for seniors, single parents, families, and people with disabilities.
Continue and strengthen the Rapid Deployment of Non-Market Housing Program, which lets non-profit providers build to the Official Community Plan’s upper limits without rezoning.
Put surplus public land to work for affordable housing by working with CRHC and other public landowners and building on partnerships like the Nellie McClung library site and its 210 affordable rental homes.
Partner with provincial and federal governments for sustained funding, including a renewed Community Housing Fund.
Expand housing options.
Cut permit times for projects that already fit the Official Community Plan, with a goal of under 30 days for those with fewer than six homes and 180 days for larger projects.
Make it easier to build townhouses, multiplexes, infill housing, and on- and off-campus student housing in areas planned for growth.
Develop and implement a family-friendly housing policy that increases the supply of 2- and 3-bedroom homes and supports alternative forms of tenure and affordable homeownership.
Protect renters.
Implement and enforce the Tenant Protection Bylaw, helping tenants stay housed through redevelopment with relocation assistance and a right of first refusal for a comparable home.
Maintain balanced short-term rental regulations to protect the long-term rental market.
Strengthen incentives for purpose-built rental housing to grow the long-term rental supply.
Transportation & Complete Communities
Getting around Saanich safely and easily
The way we plan our neighbourhoods shapes how we get around. When homes, shops, schools, and parks are close together and connected by safe streets, daily life gets easier, whether you walk, roll, bike, bus, or drive.
Zac has worked to link transportation and land-use planning so Saanich grows into walkable, complete communities. He chairs Saanich’s Transportation Advisory Committee, and as a CRD Director he helped build a regional approach to transportation so options keep pace with a growing population. On Council, he championed Saanich’s adoption of Vision Zero and its Road Safety Action Plan, the first on Vancouver Island, and fought to keep funding for the Active Transportation Plan when it came under pressure.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Keep streets safe and accessible for everyone.
Put children’s safety first, building on the Road Safety Action Plan and Safe Routes to School with safer crossings, traffic calming, stop signs, and 30 km/h school and playground zones where warranted.
Restore Active Transportation Plan funding and keep it in step with construction costs, so gaps in sidewalks, crossings, and bike lanes get filled in.
Close accessibility gaps for older adults and people with disabilities, with clear timelines, adequate funding in annual budgets, and public progress updates.
Make transit faster, more reliable, and more affordable.
Pursue a Regional Transportation Authority, starting by growing the CRD's Regional Transportation Service, so transit, regional roads, and land use are planned together.
Work with BC Transit, the CRD, and neighbouring municipalities to keep service in step with housing and population growth, and to fix accessibility gaps at stops and exchanges.
Give buses priority on key corridors, including converting on-street parking to bus lanes where appropriate, so buses can run faster and more frequently without taking space from existing traffic lanes.
Advocate to BC Transit and the provincial and federal governments for free transit for youth under 19, lower-cost regional monthly passes, and more fare relief options.
Build complete communities.
Direct growth to walkable, transit-served neighbourhoods so low-carbon choices are the most convenient and our air stays clean.
Encourage mixed-use projects and neighbourhood hubs so fewer trips are needed to reach daily needs.
Pair infrastructure investment with growth, keeping roads in good repair and traffic moving for the many people who rely on driving.
Finalize the Tillicum Burnside Plan and the other Centre, Corridor and Village plans so new homes, transportation, parks, services, and infrastructure are planned together.
Financial Sustainability & Economic Development
Keeping Saanich affordable and dynamic
Responsible financial management and a strong local economy are key to keeping Saanich affordable for residents and businesses. That means avoiding short-term cuts and deferred maintenance that simply shift costs into the future at a greater expense, leaving future generations to pay for today’s decisions.
Zac helped create Saanich’s economic development function and chaired the Economic Development Advisory Committee to support local businesses and attract investment. He understands the pressure aging infrastructure puts on municipal budgets and is committed to finding ways to pay for it that don’t rest solely on property taxes, including revenue from public land.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Plan for the long term and keep taxes predictable.
Strengthen asset management and multi-year financial forecasting so Council can see spending, infrastructure needs, and tax impacts years ahead.
Work to keep property taxes and utility costs predictable and affordable, while investing in infrastructure and services that reduce costs for households over the long term.
Spread the cost of long-lived infrastructure fairly across the generations who use it.
Review Saanich’s tax policy to keep the balance between residents and businesses fair and sustainable.
Grow the tax base to ease pressure on property taxes.
Enable the housing and commercial space Saanich needs, so growth widens the tax base and helps fund the infrastructure and services it requires.
Support local businesses and neighbourhood business hubs, including mixed-use projects and fewer barriers for small businesses.
Build on the Economic Development Strategy to attract investment in sectors like life sciences, health care, clean tech, and the creative economy.
Find new revenue and deliver on services.
Pursue non-tax revenue from public land, such as leasing land or the development space above public buildings (air rights), as part of projects like the Saanich Operations Centre redevelopment, instead of raising taxes or utility fees.
Seek provincial and federal funding and matching grants, so local taxpayers don’t carry the full cost.
Expand shared services with regional partners through the CRD, and invest in technology that lowers long-term operating costs.
Climate Action & Environment
Protecting what makes Saanich special
Saanich’s parks, trees, farmland, and waterways are part of what makes this community home. Protecting them, and preparing for a changing climate, is essential for the generations to come.
Since first being elected in 2018, Zac has consistently worked to make climate action a core part of Saanich's decision-making. In 2021 he brought forward the 3-30-300 urban forestry principle: three trees visible from every home, 30% neighbourhood tree canopy, and a park within 300 metres. He also served as Council liaison while Saanich developed its first Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, endorsed in 2024. Emissions from Saanich’s own buildings and fleet are now 47% below 2007 levels.
He believes smart growth is one of the most effective climate tools a municipality has. Most existing homes weren’t built for a changing climate, so new development is a chance to build complete communities and homes that are better prepared for hotter, wetter, and drier conditions while using less energy. Climate action and affordability go together: efficient buildings, healthy natural systems, and resilient infrastructure all reduce long-term costs.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Grow our urban forest and green spaces.
Use the 3-30-300 principle to guide neighbourhood planning and investments.
Prioritize new parks and green space in underserved neighbourhoods.
Expand tree canopy along high-use and urban roads to cool our hottest streets and reduce heat islands.
Protect natural areas and prepare for climate impacts.
Implement the Biodiversity Conservation and Urban Forest Strategies to protect and connect forests, wetlands, waterways, and farmland, including keeping trees and natural features in new development.
Build climate resilience into infrastructure and asset management, including stormwater, roads, water systems, and coastal flood adaptation.
Strengthen preparedness for extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and storms, with particular attention to seniors, children, and other vulnerable populations.
Lead climate action through smart growth.
Plan housing, transportation, and natural systems together, locating homes, jobs, and services where people can walk, bike, and take transit, so low-carbon choices are the most convenient and our air stays clean.
Encourage climate-ready new development, with homes and infrastructure built for hotter, wetter, and drier conditions using green building, tree canopy, and rain gardens.
Support energy-efficiency and resilience upgrades to existing buildings, and help households move off fossil-fuel heating.
Apply climate and long-term cost lenses to major decisions, reporting publicly on progress through Saanich's annual Climate Report Card.
Farming & Food Security
Growing a food-secure Saanich
Farmland is part of what makes Saanich special, and it is equally essential to food security at a time of climate and supply chain risks. Protecting it means keeping land affordable for the people who farm it, closing gaps in local processing and distribution, and preparing for warmer temperatures and new crops. It also means working with the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose traditional food systems have been disrupted despite sustaining these communities since time immemorial.
Zac is a Sector Specialist in Food and Beverage Processing at the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, where he designs programs to help local food companies compete and grow. He brings firsthand knowledge of how Saanich’s agriculture can be supported at every stage of the supply chain, and has supported emergency response to wildfires, floods, and supply disruptions. On Council, he is liaison to the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission and supported limiting house sizes on agricultural land to keep farmland affordable for farmers.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Protect farmland and support farmers.
Implement the updated Agriculture and Food Security Plan, setting clear priorities and reporting publicly on progress.
Maintain the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Urban Containment Boundary, the line that directs growth to existing urban areas, so farmland isn’t lost to sprawl.
Keep land affordable for farmers by limiting non-farm uses on agricultural land, including maintaining limits on house size, so working farms don’t become large estates.
Support new and multi-generational farmers in starting and staying on the land.
Strengthen local food supply and access.
Work with local economic development partners to close gaps in local food production, especially processing and distribution.
Make local food easier to grow and buy by reducing barriers to community gardens, identifying sites for them on public and private land, and sourcing local food for municipal events where possible.
Support food access for residents most in need, including advocacy for local food banks.
Work with the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples to support the revival of their traditional food systems.
Help farms adapt to a changing climate.
Explore climate-resilient crops and sustainable practices suited to warmer conditions, including a review of practices for crops new to the region.
Support water conservation on farmland.
Protect and restore wetlands, waterways, and habitat beside farmland, working with farmers.
Community & Belonging
A Saanich that works for everyone
Saanich is strongest when everyone feels they belong, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or background. A family-friendly Saanich means neighbourhoods where kids can safely walk, bike, and play, where parents can connect with one another, and where people of every generation feel at home.
Zac has long advocated on issues that matter to seniors, youth, and families. During his time on Council, Saanich opened an accessible playground and splash pad at Rutledge Park, earned Rick Hansen accessibility certification at three recreation centres, and secured $2.5M in federal funding for programs that reach isolated seniors. He believes parks, recreation, arts, and community spaces are core infrastructure, and that good decisions start with listening, including to the many residents who don't have time for evening meetings.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Build connected neighbourhoods.
Hold regular community conversations in neighbourhoods across Saanich, and report back on what was heard and how it shaped decisions.
Prioritize safe routes to schools and parks, accessible playgrounds, and places to gather.
Support neighbourhood associations, community organizations, local events, and intergenerational activities that help neighbours meet.
Plan new neighbourhoods around family life, with family-sized homes, shared outdoor space, and easy connections to parks, schools, childcare, and transit.
Keep recreation and community services in step with growth.
Use Saanich’s 2025–35 Parks, Recreation and Community Services Action Plan to plan and budget ahead of demand, with clear priorities and measurable outcomes.
Keep recreation affordable and accessible to everyone, including seniors, newcomers, and low-income families, building on programs like Leisure Involvement For Everyone and accessibility-certified facilities.
Share spaces and programming with schools, post-secondary institutions, sports groups, and community organizations, and pursue a regional approach to recreation.
Provide Saanich Neighbourhood Place stable, predictable funding by doubling core municipal support to $90,000 a year and moving to five-year agreements while working to identify opportunities for another Neighbourhood House in Saanich.
Support arts and culture as core community infrastructure.
Bring public art and cultural expression into parks, public spaces, community facilities, and new development.
Reduce barriers for non-profit and community arts groups to start, operate, and grow, with improved coordination between Saanich, artists, and cultural organizations.
Support and expand the CRD Arts Development Service and Performing Arts Facilities Service to strengthen regional arts funding.
Reconciliation
Building relationships, building a shared future
Saanich is located on the territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. The District and the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council have signed ÁTOL,NEUEL (“Respecting One Another”), a Memorandum of Understanding that advances reconciliation through a government-to-government relationship built on respect, co-operation, and partnership.
Zac believes reconciliation requires respectful dialogue and strong council-to-council relationships with First Nations governments. During his time on Council, Saanich signed the ÁTOL,NEUEL MOU in 2021; hosted the Witness Blanket exhibit at Cedar Hill Recreation and Arts Centre; hired a Manager of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; and expanded Indigenous awareness training to reach 1,913 employees in 2025. Reconciliation is an ongoing commitment, a generational task that must be lived and practiced every day.
As Mayor, Zac will:
Strengthen government-to-government relationships.
Carry forward the ÁTOL,NEUEL MOU, including council-to-council learning, protection of ancestral sites, and ecological restoration in Saanich parks.
Explore new MOUs with other local First Nations, and engage urban Indigenous and Métis communities.
Involve First Nations early in transit and infrastructure planning, and support the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative—a partnership between the Lək̓ʷəŋən Nations and local governments to explore passenger rail between Victoria and Langford.
Work with the provincial and federal governments on funding for shared priorities.
Act on the Calls to Action.
Continue implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and work toward the Calls to Justice from the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls inquiry.
Report publicly on progress on a regular basis.
Sustain Indigenous awareness training for staff and the work of Saanich’s Indigenous Relations division.
Bring reconciliation into community life.
Support Indigenous artists and public art in Saanich.
Keep hosting Indigenous-led and Indigenous-focused community events and learning opportunities.
Honour Indigenous history and culture in public spaces, in partnership with First Nations.