Saanich Council approves non-binding amalgamation question for 2026 General Local Election

Information Bulletin
For immediate release

Saanich, BC – Saanich Council has authorized staff to place a non-binding public opinion question on the ballot for the 2026 General Local Election. The approved question will ask electors: “do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?”

The question is intended to gauge elector support for pursuing amalgamation further. The question is non-binding, meaning the results will not have legal or statutory effect and will not by themselves create an amalgamated municipality. Instead, the vote will indicate whether there is public support for newly elected councils to continue exploring the issue.

Background

The amalgamation question follows work that began after the 2018 General Local Election, when electors in both Saanich and Victoria supported funding for a Citizens’ Assembly on the question of amalgamation.

Led independently by MASS LBP, the Assembly was mandated to explore the costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamation between the two municipalities. Its final report included analysis and recommendations on governance, service delivery, transportation, climate resilience, housing, public safety and other key issues.

However, the Citizens’ Assembly report did not include a comprehensive analysis of the cost of amalgamation or the impact amalgamation could have on property tax rates. The Province advised that a binding referendum could not be authorized for 2026 because more detailed analysis would still be needed to understand the financial impacts, transition considerations and service impacts.

Next steps

If the majority of electors in both Saanich and Victoria vote yes in 2026, it would show support for both newly elected councils to pursue further technical and financial analysis with the Province before any future binding referendum could be considered.

If electors in either community vote no, it would show there is not enough public support to continue pursuing amalgamation, and no further work would take place.

Learn more

More information about the 2026 General Local Election and the amalgamation question is available on saanich.ca/elections.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca