Esquimalt voters are set to head to the polls April 5 to cast their ballot for one of eight candidates vying for a spot around the town council table. Victoria News asked every candidate what are the biggest or most important issues facing Esquimalt residents right now, and how they would address those issues.
Cornelis Bouman
I have enjoyed living in Esquimalt for 20 years. I see no urgent action, nor quick fixes required. The township does seem to be going through a remarkable growth spurt these past few years though, which is ongoing, and will be so for the foreseeable future. Exciting? Yes. Opportunities? Yes.
However, it also comes with increased congestion, increased use of available resources, and other undesirable side effects related to urban renewal/development. Naturally, all this needs to be managed thoughtfully, with both short- and long-term outlooks; needing to consider all angles as best as can to keep Esquimalt healthy, vibrant and running well for all its residents.
There will need to be an ongoing focus on traffic, recreational needs, and other services. This may include adapting our policing model. The needs of all our residents must be factored in. We will also continue to need to involve other key players related to the community's well-being, such as the DND, businesses, First Nations, School District 61, etc.
Please get out and vote!
Meagan Brame
Esquimalt is growing, and with that growth comes challenges — particularly rising property taxes and pressure on our infrastructure. While we need to invest in services and amenities to support our expanding community, we must do so in a way that keeps life affordable for residents.
If elected, I will work with my fellow council for smart budgeting and long-term planning to manage these costs. Increasing our infrastructure reserve will help us avoid sudden tax spikes and ensure we’re prepared for future needs.
With the province calling for increased housing, we must also ensure the infrastructure required to support that growth is in place. I will continue to encourage developers to contribute amenities like gyms and public gathering areas to reduce strain on existing facilities. I will advocate to higher levels of government for infrastructure grants.
Equally important is transparent governance and collaboration with residents. I believe in open communication, listening to concerns, and working together to find solutions that reflect our community’s values.
I have always been someone who shows up, listens, and finds solutions – and I’m ready to do that again for Esquimalt. By planning wisely, building thoughtfully, and working together, we can keep Esquimalt strong, vibrant, and affordable.
Holly Courtright
Esquimalt is facing significant financial challenges, leaving our resources stretched thin. Key projects like the Public Safety Building Improvements, which required up to $35M in borrowing, are essential for maintaining essential infrastructure, but the resulting debt repayments create ongoing pressure on our municipal budget. While the alternative approval process allows for efficient approval, it raises concerns about the level of public involvement in such crucial financial decisions.
Additionally, rising costs for services and infrastructure maintenance are outpacing our revenue growth. With Esquimalt’s limited land base, opportunities for new development are few, leaving us overly reliant on property taxes to fund services and limiting our ability to diversify revenue streams.
However, there are solutions. To secure a healthier financial future, we must focus on attracting development that brings in businesses and supports economic growth, reducing our reliance on property taxes and providing more flexibility. Prioritizing strategic, long-term investments will ensure that every dollar spent brings lasting value.
To address these challenges, we need a balanced approach – one that focuses on finding new revenue sources, being transparent with the public, and ensuring that we manage resources responsibly. Esquimalt’s future depends on making smart, sustainable financial decisions for the long term.
James Myers
Demographic rotation is the biggest change that Esquimalt needs to prepare for. Over the past decades, the township has likely fulfilled the citizens' needs in a stepwise fashion as young families slowly transformed into empty nests. This stepwise approach will no longer work as Esquimalt renews its generational lifecycle. It’s an exciting challenge.
We are approaching this transition now, so we need to ensure that we are building an Esquimalt that has facilities, features and services to care for seniors, but also has enough flexibility that these can be converted to serve families when the time comes.
Our seniors created Esquimalt’s friendliness and sense of community. It will be up to new families and citizens to keep this amazing vibe going. Our large events stand out but smaller, more personal gatherings like block watch, and volunteering go a long way to build community. With township budgets tightening and new citizens arriving, I think that it’s more important than ever to maintain funding for the facilities and programs that keep this amazing sense of community alive.
Shawn Stewart
The biggest problem in Esquimalt right now is small-picture, short-term thinking, resulting in a lack of proper planning so that decisions are being made without adequate data or forecasts. We all are paying for it in lowering the standard of living and higher taxes.
I come from a technology background and understand that data is available to not just see where we are as a community, but also to measure the effects council decisions have.
More than that, we can model costs, revenues, and the effects of changes out multiple years for things like traffic, business, rent and demographics. I would require that decision be considered against data and long-term forecasts. I will also require that there be a plan to measure results after a change has been made with an option to change back if need be.
Kody Thomson
Cost of living and the lack of affordable housing remain the biggest challenges for Esquimalt residents. While council has approved numerous large-scale developments in recent years, it will take time for construction to finish and impact the housing market.
If elected, I will push to ease restrictions on small- and medium-scale housing, making it easier to add carriage houses, suites, and small accessory homes to single-family lots. Current zoning rules and township procedural barriers discourage small-scale builders from filling this "missing middle" housing gap.
By pre-emptively removing parking minimums and upzoning single-family lots, we will lower small-scale development costs without burdening taxpayers or pushing the problem to the next decade. We need more housing and a variety of housing types to provide affordable housing options for all current and future Esquimaltonians.
Affordable housing is essential to addressing other issues, from attracting family doctors to helping residents start businesses to reducing poverty. While this change takes time, we must act now from multiple angles.
I will bring much-needed representation from younger residents and renters to council, as well as my engineering and infrastructure management experience. With less than two years before the next general election, I know we’ll be busy.
Marcus McCullough
I believe the biggest issue currently facing Esquimalt is navigating the complex challenges of housing affordability and infrastructure development while ensuring that all levels of government work together to support our community. As a growing township, Esquimalt requires strong leadership that can build effective partnerships with provincial and federal governments to secure funding, advocate for our needs, and ensure we are not overlooked in regional planning.
My professional background in inter-governmental relations positions me uniquely to address this challenge. I have spent my career fostering collaboration between governments and non-governmental organizations and ensuring that community priorities are heard at higher levels of decision-making. These skills would allow me to advocate effectively for Esquimalt, whether it’s securing resources for affordable housing projects, improving transportation infrastructure, or enhancing public services.
If elected to council, I would bring my expertise in building bridges between governments to ensure Esquimalt’s voice is strong and that we continue to thrive as a vibrant and inclusive community.
The 2025 Esquimalt byelection general voting day is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, with two advance voting days – March 26 and April 2 – and mail ballots adding additional voting opportunities.
Candidate Ed Avery did not respond to Victoria News inquiries
