How to read this page. Each row below is one policy area, with Holly Courtright's mark for it on the right; the key underneath says what each mark means. Open a row for the questions behind that mark, what they answered, and why each answer scored as it did. The control above the list opens all of them at once. At the foot of the page you can print this scorecard or share it as an image.
General
What Holly Courtright said
- Not graded GEN-01
If you could change one policy, bylaw, feature, or municipal asset (i.e, facility or infrastructure) in your municipality, what would it be and why?
I would implement Development Cost Charges in a well thought out and progressive way that allows us to utilize them to incentivize development that is needed to service the varied population in Esquimalt. - Not graded GEN-02
Your municipality has received $10 million in new annual funding and must spend all of it. How would you allocate it across the following areas? Your answers must total $10 million.
Holly Courtright's allocation of ten million dollars Housing $2,000,000 Transit $750,000 Walking Infrastructure $1,000,000 Rolling & Cycling Infrastructure $1,000,000 Roadway Infrastructure $750,000 Policing $500,000 Fire & Emergency Services $500,000 Parks & Recreation $1,000,000 Arts & Culture $250,000 Climate Action & Environment $750,000 Unhoused Resident Services $500,000 Community-Based Clinics $1,000,000 - Not graded GEN-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to communicate about your region, generally, feel free to share your thoughts here.
This question is relatively unreasonable and doesn't address the actual cost of accomplishing things. If you spread 10M amongst too many priorities it does no good and is performative. 10M seems like a lot of money but when you put it to work...it isn't. I have answered this question but think it is a bit of trap to show where my priorities are when in fact if spread too thin, it shows a lack of understanding of the actual cost of things. The temptation is to divide these funds equally but that dilutes the effectiveness of this one time funding source. The goal should be to utilize this money to build an overall livable community. This money should be used as an integrated investment that builds up an entire area of the overall community. My goal here would be to use the funding to build a solid foundation for outside investment to multiply the effects and show what can be accomplished when issues are addressed together rather than as separate issues to be dealt with in isolation.
Healthcare access
What Holly Courtright said
- Not graded HLT-01
What role should your municipality play in establishing new primary care clinics?
Why we ask this
Ungraded. Mainly curious about how you'd approach expanding healthcare access in your region.
Chose 1 of 4 options - Not graded HLT-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to healthcare in your municipality, feel free to share your thoughts below.
We need to ensure there are no blocks to any healthcare facility in our municipality. We should work in partnership with anyone working to bring heathcare workers into the municipality and we should investigate the tax incentives that are available to make it easier for health care practicioners to come to Esquimalt. What we should not do is take on the provincial or federal governments responsibility. Doing this ensure they will move to download it to municipalities inthe future and that cements us paying for something that is outside of our responsibility.
Transit
B- 20% of this topic TRN-01 C
Which fare measures would you actively advocate for at the VRTC? Select all that apply.
Why this grade: Would advocate for cheaper fares for seniors and cheaper fares for people on income or disability assistance. Half the list is taken up, which commits to lower fares for some riders but not as a general direction.
How this question is graded
A count of ticks, because no option here is cheaper than the others in the way CLI-06's are. Four or more = A. Three = B. Two = C. One = C-. None = F. The rows graded before this rubric was written are not perfectly consistent with it at three and two ticks; they were left as typed and the majority letter was taken. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 2 of 6 options (up to 4 allowed) - 30% of this topic TRN-02 C
Do you support removing general on-street parking (excluding accessible parking spaces) from frequent transit corridors and main arterial streets in your municipality, and reallocating that space to bus lanes, loading zones, and walking and cycling infrastructure?
Why this grade: Supports reallocating kerbside space on busy transit streets case by case, tied to whatever scheme happens to come forward. No project is named and nothing is promised ahead of one coming forward, which is where a case by case answer lands.
How this question is graded
Yes, across the whole corridor = A. Yes, only during peak hours = B. Kind of, only when a specific project requires it = C. No = F. Peak hours only is a real, testable limit on a yes, so it takes the conditional-yes B. Only when a specific project requires it names no project and commits to nothing in advance, which is the case-by-case answer CLI-08 puts at C. A No is F because the question is about street space, which is infrastructure. Eight of the earlier rows put the case-by-case option at B and nineteen put it at C; the nineteen were followed. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 6 options - 30% of this topic TRN-03 A
Do you support rapid deployment of transit priority measures on frequent transit corridors, even where this requires removing on-street parking or a general-purpose traffic lane?
Why this grade: Backs rapid deployment of bus priority measures on busy routes even when a general traffic lane has to go. The yes is given without conditions, which is the full commitment the question asks for.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, but not at the cost of a general-purpose travel lane = C-. No = F. The question asks specifically about giving up a traffic lane, so a yes that rules the lane out withholds the one thing being asked for and cannot take the conditional-yes B. C- rather than F because the rest of the toolkit is still on the table. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 6 options - 10% of this topic TRN-04 A
Do you support the creation of a regional transportation authority?
Why this grade: Backs setting up a single regional body to run transportation across the region. The answer is a plain yes with nothing attached to it.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = C-. A No is C- rather than F because this asks who should decide, not what should be built or funded, which puts it on the governance side of the CLI-03 split. Three earlier rows typed F and two typed C-; the governance rule was followed over the count. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - 10% of this topic TRN-05 B
Do you support building new bus-only and bike-only connections through parks, golf courses or public land when doing so would substantially shorten transit and cycling trips?
Why this grade: Backs new bus and bicycle links across public land on the condition that mature trees survive construction. Keeping mature trees is a named and checkable condition rather than an open ended one, which makes this a qualified yes.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, if no mature trees are lost during construction = B. No = F. Losing no mature trees is a named and checkable condition, so it takes the conditional-yes B. A No is F because the question is about building a connection, which is infrastructure. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded TRN-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to transit in your region, feel free to share your thoughts below.
We continutally set this up as a contentious one. Increasing transit flexibility does not have to mean inconveniencing vehicular traffic. There are creative ways to manage moving people around the region without it being a competition. Transit should operate as part of one coordinated transportation network. Routes, schedules, fares, sidewalks and cycling connections need to work together so people can complete the entire trip safely and reliably.
Housing
C- HFL-01 7 / 8
What kinds of housing could your municipality use more of? Select all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point per selected type to max of 8. Housing exists on a continuum and different types are appropriate for different households. All housing is needed and positively affects other types via vacancy chains
Holly Courtright chose 7 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-02 6 / 8
Which of the following items do you support to minimize tenant displacement and maintain/grow the supply of affordable housing? Select up all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point per strategy to max of 8. To tackle tenant displacement local governments must take an all of the above approach to reduce the impacts associated with renovictions and evictions.
Holly Courtright chose 6 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-03 4 / 6
Do you think your municipality should have target approval times for multifamily housing?
How this question is graded
6 points for 30/180 days, prorated for longer timelines. Housing delayed is housing denied. Long delays drive us costs for housing, increase the chance that they will be cancelled, and indicate a lack of clear published guidelines. A time limit on decisions prioritizes housing action and reforms.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-04 4 / 5
If there was a type of housing you wanted to see more of (e.g., affordable, non-market, family-sized, townhouses, etc.), what do you think are effective methods of getting more of it? Select all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point for each option, but -1 for choosing mandated requirements (d). To increase the building of certain desireable types of housing (affordable, family sized, etc), cities need to pursue a broad approach of both removing barriers and targetted incentives. Mandated requirements (or inclusionary zoning) have a track record of acting like a tax and therefore reducing housing construction or increasing costs.
Holly Courtright chose 6 of 8 options - HFL-05 3 / 3
Do you believe that the municipality should pre-zone to the uses, heights and densities outlined in the Official Community Plan, so that OCP-compliant projects can be built without rezoning or public hearing?
How this question is graded
3 points for yes, 0 for no. An OCP sets out the direction and vision for a municipality with broad input from the community and council. Matching zoning to long term consensus-based plans reduces scarcity and allows incentivizes OCP compliant housing to be built quickly.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - HFL-06 1 / 6
Beyond the three to four units Bill 44 already requires, what is the most housing you think should be legal to build by-right (i.e. without rezoning) in traditional single-family areas of your municipality?
How this question is graded
a) 0 points b) 1 points c) 2 points d) 5 points e) 6 points. With little room for new single family developments, housing abundance relies on density. People unable to afford a single family house should not be relegated to living only on busy arterials where high density is legal, but should have a diversity of housing options in every neighbourhood.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 6 options - HFL-07 0 / 3
A housing proposal has been reviewed by staff and they recommend approval. It requires rezoning because the existing zoning has not been updated. If it faces substantial neighbourhood opposition, how would you generally vote?
How this question is graded
3 points for a), 0 otherwise. Housing approval rules must be predictable and clear for those building housing, or it will lead to scarcity. If municipal planning staff have adequately considered objections to a project and still recommend approval it should be approved. If unanticipated issues are raised, policies should be clarified to ensure staff can work with applicants on future projects.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-08 2 / 2
Do you support eliminating minimum parking requirements for new developments or suites?
How this question is graded
1 point for yes, 2 points for yes with transportation demand management measures, 0 points for no. A single additional parking space can add tens of thousands to the cost of a home. However, a development without parking and without offsetting remedies can impact livability for the eventual occupants of a home.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-09 2 / 6
Non-market housing often faces additional challenges getting approved. Which of the following measures do you support to improve the prospects for below-market housing construction? Select all that apply.
How this question is graded
1 point for each option, but -1 for choosing mandated requirements (d). Building homes is hard, building non-market homes is substantially harder. This has serious socio-economic consequences for certain members of society. With the exception of mandated requirements (or inclusionary zoning), which have a track record of acting like a tax and therefore a deterrent to new construction, a broad and flexible approach is needed to help non-market housing across the approval finish line.
Holly Courtright chose 4 of 9 options (up to 7 allowed) - HFL-11 5 / 6
The BC government set a housing target for Victoria at 4,902 homes over five years, which represents 75% of the estimated housing need for that period. Regardless of provincial requirements or penalties, do you believe the city should strive to build:
How this question is graded
6 points for too low, 1 for about right, 0 for too high. By definition, the provincial housing targets, being set as only 75% of estimated housing need is too low of a target to meet local housing needs.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-12 3 / 6
Municipal asset-management plans have identified substantial gaps between current funding and the amount needed to maintain and replace roads, water and sewer systems, public buildings, and other infrastructure. In Victoria, the 2024 Corporate Asset Management Strategy identified $570 million worth of infrastructure in poor or very poor condition. Which approaches would you prioritize to address this infrastructure problem? Select up to two.
How this question is graded
5 points for selecting more housing and commercial development, 1 for seeking additional provincial or federal funding, 0 points for increasing taxes or reducing infrastructure projects, and -2 points for increasing development charges, amenity contributions, and other fees imposed on new houses.
Holly Courtright chose 2 of 6 options - HFL-10 5 / 7
If elected, what do you hope to have accomplished on the housing file at the end of your first year, and end of your four-year term?
How this question is graded
To receive full marks, candidates receive a point up to 7 for referencing impactful housing ideas in their answer including but not limited to: a rental vacancy rate target, a quantitative target regarding annual homes built, pre-zoning commitments / OCP alignment, non-profit by right commitment, commitment to tenant production aligned with platform, commitment to regulate and enforce Airbnb rules, delegate more rezoning / variance decisions to staff, a continuation of policies that have been working, developing a pre-approved catalog of housing designs, loosening design guidelines or other restrictive regulations, minimizing tenant displacement, increasing the regional housing fund, enhancing partnerships with other levels of government, the private sector, co-ops, and non-profit housing developers, streamlining regulations, and shorten requirements.
Holly Courtright's answerAt the end of the first year, I want Esquimalt to have a clear housing plan tied directly to the new Official Community Plan. We should know what kinds of homes are missing, where additional housing can be supported, what infrastructure will be required, and what barriers are slowing down good projects. A zoning project undertaken by Council is not a solution. It is one step toward better understanding where we are and where we need to go.
I would vote in favour of establishing clear and publicly reported approval timelines, begin strengthening protections for tenants affected by redevelopment, and identify municipal land, partnerships and incentives that could help deliver non-market, accessible and family-sized housing.
That first-year work should include establishing fair and predictable development cost charges. I want to explore options for incrementally increasing property taxes for stalled developments and recognize that growth creates additional demands on infrastructure and services, and those costs should not simply be transferred to existing taxpayers. The charges must be evidence-based, clearly communicated, and carefully designed so they help fund the infrastructure growth requires without making needed housing unnecessarily difficult to build.
By the end of four years, I want to see a meaningful increase in the range of homes being built in Esquimalt, including rental, ownership, family-sized, accessible and non-market housing. Success should not be measured by the number of units approved. We should also report what was completed, how long approvals took, whether we reduced displacement, what infrastructure contributions were collected, and whether new housing is being supported by transportation, utilities, parks, services, and public space.
Climate
B- 8% of this topic CLI-01 C
Would you support ending fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship on property, media and events controlled by your municipality, to the extent the law allows? And would you advocate for the same at the Victoria Regional Transit Commission for BC Transit vehicles and shelters?
Why this grade: Turns down the sponsorship money only, and is undecided about the transit commission. Partial on the municipal measure and unresolved on the advocacy.
How this question is graded
Two commitments in one question, so the menu answer alone cannot reach the top. The menu sets a base and a Yes on the follow-up about advocating at the Victoria Regional Transit Commission raises it one step. Yes, both advertising and sponsorship = B, and A with the follow-up. Yes, advertising only or Yes, sponsorship only = C, and B with the follow-up. No = F, because ending the advertising is something the municipality controls outright. A follow-up written as free text rather than ticked is a judgement about the candidate and is graded by hand. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 6 options Follow-up: Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-02 B
The Capital Regional District declared a climate emergency in 2019. How should your municipality treat climate action in its next four-year plan?
Why this grade: Places climate high and pays for it. The commitment is concrete and bounded at the same time.
How this question is graded
The overriding priority, other decisions should be tested against it = A. One of the top three priorities, with a dedicated budget = B. One priority among many, addressed where affordable = C-. Not a municipal priority = F. The ladder skips C on purpose: a dedicated budget is the line between a priority and a sentiment, so addressing climate only where affordable drops two steps rather than one. Handing the file to another order of government is F. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-03 A
Will you pledge to never take meetings from fossil fuel company lobbyists?
Why this grade: Accepts the pledge as posed. The commitment holds regardless of who makes the approach or how it is framed.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = C-. The No is C- rather than F because of the split the grading settled on: a plain No is C- where the question is about governance or conduct and F where it is about infrastructure, land use or funding. This one asks a candidate to give up a channel of access to themselves, which is conduct. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-04 A
Climate-related damage and adaptation costs increasingly fall on municipal budgets. Would you vote to have your municipality join other BC local governments in legal action to recover a share of those costs from major fossil fuel producers?
Why this grade: Unqualified support for joining. The answer does not ask for exposure to be capped before agreeing to it.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, if municipal costs are capped = B, because a conditional yes is B wherever one appears and a cap on municipal exposure lands there. No = F, because the question is about spending to recover costs, which is the funding side of the split CLI-03 sits on the other side of. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-05 A
Will you support a zoning bylaw amendment that prohibits the approval of any new or expanded commercial gas stations within municipal boundaries?
Why this grade: Supports the bylaw amendment with no qualifier. That places the candidate at the top of this question.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = F. A land use question, so a No is F rather than C-. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-06 F
Extreme heat, wildfire smoke and wildfire risk all affect people living in existing homes. What would you have your municipality do to protect them? Select all you support.
Why this grade: Selects none of the above. No protection is supported, funded or otherwise, for households already exposed to these risks.
How this question is graded
Up to five measures may be ticked. Four or more ticks including at least two of the three the municipality has to pay for (subsidized home assessments, grants or financing for retrofits, designated centres with guaranteed opening hours) = A. Three or more ticks = B. Two = C. One = C-. None of the above = F. The funding floor is there because a straight count of ticks would let a candidate reach the top on the two cheapest options, a vegetation bylaw and an information campaign, while committing no money to anyone actually living in an overheating home. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 7 options (up to 5 allowed) - 8% of this topic CLI-07 A
Are you supportive of phasing out fossil fuel powered tools such as leaf blowers (following the lead of Oak Bay and other municipalities across the country)?
Why this grade: Supports the phase out outright. The benefit falls on the people living nearest the work.
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = F. A regulatory phase-out, graded on the same footing as CLI-05. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-08 A
Large data centres can add substantial electricity and water demand. Under what conditions, if any, would you support a new data centre in your municipality?
Why this grade: Rejects the whole category. The answer needs no ongoing oversight to remain true.
How this question is graded
Oppose all new data centres = A. Support only with waste-heat recovery and no net increase in potable water use = B. Support only under conditions set case by case = C. Support without special conditions = F. The two conditional options are separated by whether the condition binds. Waste-heat recovery and no net potable water increase is a testable commitment, so it takes the conditional-yes B. Conditions set case by case name nothing and commit to nothing, so it takes the C that a depends-case-by-case answer gets everywhere else. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 8% of this topic CLI-09 A
What are the primary climate risk(s) facing your community, and what actions would you take to support adaptation and resilience in your community?
Why this grade: Clearly identifies several relevant risks as well as tangible strategies and steps towards mitigating them within the context of Esquimalt.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = names a climate risk specific to the municipality and specific actions against it, usually tied to data or a programme already running. B = one half only, a risk with no action or actions with no risk named, or backing an existing plan without either. C = general support with nothing local in it, a list of risks and nothing else, or the work handed to the region. C- = a risk gestured at and nothing more. F = an answer that is not about climate.
Holly Courtright's answerI think that the main climate risks in Esquimalt are unanticipated heat, wildfire smoke from outside areas, heavy rainfall, flooding, and the pressure these events place on our aged drainage systems, buildings, trees, shorelines, and emergency services. These risks will not affect everyone equally. Seniors, people with disabilities, renters in older buildings, and unhoused residents, will have limited options when their homes become dangerously hot or the air is unsafe.
I would incorporate climate-risk mapping into the new OCP, infrastructure planning, and municipal budgets so we understand which neighbourhoods, buildings, and public infrastructure are most vulnerable. That information should guide where we improve drainage, protect shorelines, plant and preserve trees, create shade, and invest in emergency preparedness.
We also need practical plans for current conditions, including mandatory cooling in all new developments, support for our existing emergency management services, and partnerships that help vulnerable residents prepare. We should not treat climate adaptation as a separate project. It needs to be considered whenever we make decisions about housing, roads, utilities, parks, public buildings, and emergency services. - 8% of this topic CLI-10 B
Ensuring ecosystem connectivity is an important adaptation strategy for climate change. How do you plan to maintain or increase ecosystem features across the urban landscape?
Why this grade: Shows clear support for the general concept of ecosystem connectivity and a willingness to learn and bring in outside partners with more knowledge on the subject.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = says what connectivity is and why it matters, with local examples, usually tied to data, a programme already running or the official community plan. B = practical examples with no local detail, or no link back to connectivity. C = general support with no project named, or an answer broad enough to fit any question. C- = agrees with the idea and offers nothing to do about it, or answers about something tangential. F is not used.
Holly Courtright's answerThis is an interesting question. I don't know the correct answer for this question but I do know that we have to find ways to build appropriate corridors for bees, birds and other pollinators in our community. I will admit that this is outside of my scope of expertise. Given that my solution is to plant food in every garden bed and pick plats that encourage pollinators, I think that my solution is to find an expert to advise council on this matter. This is a specialized science and requires advice from someone that I don't think that the Township currently employs. - 8% of this topic CLI-11 B
Do you see development as an opportunity to increase resilience to climate-related events, and if so, how?
Why this grade: Show clear support for the idea that development can support resilience, however does not provide specifics. Example questions for development opportunities or specific strategies to improve resilience would strengthen this answer.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = yes, with how and why, naming strategies or a local policy that ties development to resilience. B = yes with relevant examples but no account of how they build resilience or how they get built. C = general support and nothing past what the building code already requires. C- = a bare yes, or support that doubts it is possible. F = does not accept that development can make a community more resilient.
Holly Courtright's answerAbsoluely. We have a choice in how we utilize every decision we make. We can look at it with a limited scope or we can expand the scope and make decisions that positively effect whatever we deem as important.
If we set standard questions that we ask of every development opportunity and that includes how it relates to the resilience to climate-related events, we incorporate this issue directly into the decision making process and reinforce the imporatance of considering it in perpetuity. - 8% of this topic CLI-12 A
The UBCM passed several resolutions saying municipalities should be able to have climate action lens and climate considerations in development and housing mandates. Do you support blue-green infrastructure upgrades as a requirement of developments for climate readiness?
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No = F. Graded by RUSH from 2026-09-01; the mapping is recorded so the remaining rows match the ones already typed. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded CLI-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to climate concerns with respect to your municipality or the region as a whole, feel free to share your thoughts below.
I think that there is a misguided assumption that considering climate concerns is an expensive endeavour. I don't think that this is true. I think there are so many creative solutions that we can implement to ensure we are protecting people from the effects of climate emergencies today and in the future.
Arts
B- 6.67% of this topic ART-01 2 / 3
Do you consider arts and culture to be a core part of your municipality's economic development strategy?
Why this score: Strongly supports arts and culture as community infrastructure and argues against treating it as an easy budget cut, while emphasizing a facilitator role.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: Although often understimated in importance, arts and culture forms the unseen building blocks of a comunity. Where this becomes challenging is to determine what level of involvement the municipality should play in this as it often creates contention as funding is limited and that is often what organizations need to provide these services.
When fiscal responsibilities become challenging, arts and culture are typically the first cuts to the budget. I feel this is a mistake. Often the amount of money that is cut is performative in nature and doesn't actually move the needle at all as funding is so limited in the first place.
The municipality should play the role of facilitator. They should support in-kind support, advocacy, partnership support, and ongoing recognizion of the benefits that arts and culture bring to the community. The municipality should behave graciously as these organizaions are typiclly run by volunteers and they should recognize their contributions. - 16.67% of this topic ART-02 2 / 3
If elected, what specific action will you commit to in your first year to strengthen your municipality's arts and cultural sector, and what measurable outcome should residents expect by the end of your four-year term?
Why this score: Identifies restoring annual funding approvals as a short-term action and a community voting system as a longer-term change, but does not provide a clearly measurable four-year outcome.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright's answerin the short term I would reinstate the yearly approval of funding for funding applications and eliminate broad stroke funding approvals.
In the long term, I would like to implement a voting systme for teh community to decide where funding went as far as arts and culture. As far as I can see, thisis decidedby Mayor and Council and Ithink that is the wrong decision maker for what is important to the commnity - 13.33% of this topic ART-03 2 / 3
Cultural strategies are often adopted and then not implemented. Would you support a cultural space implementation framework with defined tools, timelines and public reporting? Select up to three components you would prioritize. Select your top three options.
Why this score: Supports regional and municipal cultural-space strategies and regulatory review, but omits the strongest affordability/permanent-asset implementation components.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 3 of 11 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-04 2 / 3
Arts organizations and event producers identify permitting, zoning and regulatory requirements as barriers to cultural activity. What would you commit to? Select all that apply.
Why this score: Supports simplified events, departmental coordination, a single permitting point, zoning review and disproportionate-cost review, but not the full package.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 5 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - 16.67% of this topic ART-05 3 / 3
If preserving and securing long-term cultural space requires additional municipal support, which approaches would you support? Select up to five.
Why this score: Supports regional funding, development/amenity contributions, a dedicated levy/fee, leveraging outside capital and nonprofit acquisition.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 5 of 16 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-06 3 / 3
Municipal budgets require difficult choices. Would you support maintaining arts and culture investment alongside other core municipal services?
Why this score: Explicitly supports arts and culture maintaining or growing alongside other core services.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-07 3 / 3
When a major development project affects an existing cultural space, what should your municipality prioritize?
Why this score: Supports replacement cultural space or equivalent community benefit in redevelopment.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 16.67% of this topic ART-08 3 / 3
Would you support municipal incentives to encourage private property owners and developers to provide affordable community & cultural space for nonprofits? Select all that apply.
Why this score: Supports multiple high-impact mechanisms, including development requirements/incentives and both property-tax approaches, plus fee reductions.
How this question is graded
Holly Courtright chose 4 of 7 options (up to 5 allowed)
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded ART-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to the arts in your municipality or the region as a whole, feel free to share your thoughts below.
My answers to these questions rely on a lot of assumptions. I want to be clear that I believe very strognly in the capacity of "arts and culture" to build a society. Not only do I think they can do it, I think they MUST do it. Arts and culture speak to the society that they serve and provide them with a baseline for acceptance and behaviour. That being said, the questions you have asked don't allow me to emphasize the parts of arts and culture that I believe to be important. I understand your need to see if I agree with funding it but as you know, one councillor is one councillor - the more important question is - am i an advocate of your provided service and the anwser is yes. of course. all day long.
Rolling & cycling
B- 15% of this topic ROL-01 C
Will you commit to funding and completing at least one 'missing link' in your municipality's Active Transportation Plan during your four-year term? If yes, which one would you prioritize?
Why this grade: Says yes to the commitment, then declines to name a link and would let a community planning process decide the priority instead. There is agreement in principle but nothing identified that could be funded and finished in the term.
How this question is graded
Yes + Project surfaced = A; Yes + No specific project in mind, or vague project = B; Combination of No and/or a lack of project ideas = C-F, depending on severity.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: this has been set up as a contensious issue but neglects to see the issue is about proactive planning. You are traping people with this question as you aren't asking the right questions. Ultimately what you want to know is if I think that an active transportation plan that makes alternative transportation methods is valuable and I do. What would I prioritize? I would prioritize what a fullsome, properly executed OCP with adequate community consultative process told me that I should prioritize. I think we need to stop making this an us versus them issue and use research based decisions to make decisions. - 15% of this topic ROL-02 A
Will you commit (or continue to commit) to physical protection (not paint alone) as the standard for all new and upgraded cycling infrastructure on busy streets in your municipality?
Why this grade: Commits to physical protection as the standard on busy streets, not paint on its own. The answer is given without qualification.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, except where physically impossible = B. No = F. Except where physically impossible is a condition that can be checked against a street, so it takes the conditional-yes B, and that is where the 19 rows graded before this rubric existed put it. A No is F because the question sets a construction standard, which is infrastructure. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 15% of this topic ROL-03 A
Will you oppose efforts (current and future) to remove, narrow or downgrade existing protected bike lanes and other all-ages-and-abilities (AAA) cycling infrastructure in your municipality during your term?
Why this grade: Will oppose removal, narrowing or downgrading of protected bike lanes already in the ground. The commitment is given without conditions.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Depends, case-by-case = C. No = F. Depends case by case names no test and commits to nothing, which is the C it gets on CLI-08 and TRN-02; 13 of the 14 rows graded before this rubric existed agree. A No is F because the question is about keeping built infrastructure in place. An answer of N/A is a claim that the question does not apply to that municipality, which is a judgement about a candidate and is passed in by hand, like an excused decline. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic ROL-04 C
What is the most important active transportation project in the municipality that you will be focused on progressing? Please provide your reasoning.
Why this grade: Points to reclaiming land to make room for walking and cycling routes. No location, scope or reasoning is attached, so there is no project here to progress or to measure.
How this question is graded
A = Candidate is able to identify a project in their community and speak to its importance. B & C = Candidate has a general idea of something that can be improved but it isn't high on their priority list. F = Candidate does not think any improvements can/should be made.
Holly Courtright's answerI want to see land reclamation to provide space for active transprtation networks. - 35% of this topic ROL-05 C
If you have previously served in local government, what did you do to advance walking, rolling, cycling or transit? If you have not, what in your record outside of council shows the same commitment?
Why this grade: Has not served in local government, and no record outside council is offered in answer to the second half of the question. There is nothing here to weigh.
How this question is graded
Free text, graded by a person on what the record shows about advancing walking, rolling, cycling or transit. A = delivered work, meaning budgets moved, plans adopted, infrastructure built, or a sustained organisational role with results behind it. B = substantial relevant advocacy or a directly relevant role, with less account of what it produced. C = a record from a different office, or advocacy confined to one location or issue, or no previous term with nothing offered in its place. C- = personal experience or unrelated work with no advocacy behind it. F = nothing relevant offered, or a record that closed the question rather than advancing it. The bands come from the 79 rows graded before 2026-09-20. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright's answerI haven't previousy served.
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded ROL-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to the rolling and cycling in your municipality or the region as a whole, feel free to share your thoughts below.
I commuted by bike for a long time - this was not by choice by by financial constrait - so I don't write this without understandig the implications of my opinions on this.
Active transportation does not mean bicycles should take priority on every road. It includes walking, mobility devices, cycling, and connections to transit, while recognizing that vehicles remain necessary for many people and trips. The goal should be a safe, connected transportation system that works for everyone.
Walking
C- 10% of this topic WLK-01 C
Municipalities, the CRD and the Province have all adopted targets to shift trips away from driving. Do you support meeting your municipality's adopted mode-shift targets, and would you vote for the necessary street-space and budgetary changes?
Why this grade: Shows a lack of commitment to multimodal planning and transportation demand management.
How this question is graded
A = yes, even if it means removing driving lanes. C = yes, but not when it takes road space from drivers. F = no. Two steps between the two yeses because the adopted targets cannot be met without reallocating street space. Unsure and Decline to answer are both C- on this tab.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-02 C
Which pedestrian safety problem in your municipality concerns you most, and what is the one change you would commit to in your first term to make walking safer and more attractive than driving for short trips?
Why this grade: Wants safe sidewalks on all streets, while saying sidewalks are not the reason people locally choose not to walk. The aim is stated without a commitment behind it, and the answer doubts the link the question is built on.
How this question is graded
Free text, graded by a person against the two things the question asks for: a named local problem, and one change committed to in a first term. A = both, with the change specific enough to be delivered and usually tied to funding, a named corridor or an existing plan. B = the problem is named and the response is concrete but soft, narrow, or a review rather than a change. C = a problem is named and nothing is committed to, or the framing of the question is declined. C- = no local problem is settled on, or the answer is a general gesture. F = nothing responsive is offered. The bands come from the 31 rows graded before 2026-09-20 and were applied to the remaining 51 on that date. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright's answerI want to see safe sidewalks on all streets. I don't think that this is a reason that people don't walk in Esquialt but I would still like to ensure safe passage on all streets. - 10% of this topic WLK-03 B
Sidewalk construction and maintenance is chronically underfunded across the region. Would you vote to increase the share of your municipality's transportation capital budget dedicated to pedestrian infrastructure?
Why this grade: Would vote to increase sidewalk funding modestly rather than substantially. The direction is right and the amount is limited.
How this question is graded
Yes, a substantial increase, meaning more than double what is currently spent = A. Yes, a modest increase, meaning more but less than double = B, because that is a real commitment with a ceiling on it. No, the current amount is sufficient = F, because the question is about money for infrastructure, which is the funding side of the split. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-04 B
Do you support expanding pedestrian-priority and car-free streets in your municipality's downtown, main street or village centre?
Why this grade: Supports car free and pedestrian priority streets only as temporary or seasonal closures. Support that stops short of a lasting change.
How this question is graded
Yes, and I would pursue a permanent expansion or implementation = A. Yes, but only temporary, seasonal or pilot closures = B, because it is a yes with a stated limit on it. No = F, because the question is about street space, which is infrastructure. An answer of N/A is not on this list: it is a claim that the municipality has no downtown, main street or village centre, which is a judgement about a candidate and is passed in by hand. It has been left blank where that is true of the municipality and graded F everywhere the question plainly does apply. Unsure was typed C on two rows before 2026-09-13 and those rows were reset to blank on 2026-09-20, so the question now follows the shared policy. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 6 options - 20% of this topic WLK-05 C-
How will you work with parent groups, school staff, and municipal staff to assure that children’s safety is prioritized over convenience and flow of motor traffic?
Why this grade: Esquimalt has an Active Transportation Network Plan that is well underway and has resulted, over the past four years, in substantial, impressive improvements in construction of sidewalk and cycling infrastructure. Setting priorities and timelines, with adequate budgeting, has supported the improvements the Township has seen. If there is continued funding in place, and if there is ongoing community consultation (as needed) with parents, teachers and municipal staff, this will indicate that safety for all road users is a priority.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = names parents, school staff and municipal staff and attaches something concrete: an audit, measures, funding, timelines, or work delivered. B = one half only, consultation without measures or measures without consultation. C = points at an existing programme as enough. C- = vague, deflects, or denies the problem. Blank only where Walk On cannot judge local conditions. F is not used.
Holly Courtright's answerI don't believe that this has come up as a major issue in Esquimalt. That being said, as previouly stated, I believe that we must walk before we can ride. A fullsome sidewalk infrasture is needed in Esquimalt to ensure everyone can walk to the serives they need. - WLK-06 C
What will you do, in a 4 year term, to identify, prioritize and set time-lines to assure that pedestrian infrastructure is improved to meet the needs of the older and disabled members of your community?
Why this grade: Walk On Victoria agrees that safe pedestrian infrastructure is of utmost importance. Community consultation between Council, municipal staff, older adults and people with disabilities helps assure that sidewalk, crosswalk, intersection, and traffic speed safety measures are part of the Active Transportation Network Plan. Council support for adequate budgeting to accomplish the plan is essential.
How this question is graded
Free text. A = names what to fix and the order it gets fixed in: an audit, named priorities, consultation with older and disabled residents, a timeline inside the term. B = real improvements with no process behind them, or continuing existing work. C = states the need and defers it, or one fix with no plan. C- = a problem with no action, or an answer about something else. Blank only where Walk On cannot judge local conditions. F is not used.
Holly Courtright's answerThis topic needs to be addressed as part of the OCP renewal project. There are certain areas of Esquimalt that are in desperate need of an ungraded sidewalk and other accessible transportation items. This should be assessed as the low hanging fruit that it is - yes, it costsmoney but ensuring our propulation is safe and can get around is of the utmost importance.
Governance
A- 17% of this topic GOV-01 A
Do you support expanding shared or regional delivery of municipal services in the Capital Region?
How this question is graded
Yes/Partly = A, Unsure = C, No = F.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-02 A
Do you support creating a regional service that designs, builds and maintains local municipal infrastructure shared across Capital Region municipalities?
Why this grade: Says yes to a regional service that would design, build and maintain local infrastructure used across Capital Region municipalities. Nothing qualifies the answer.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. Yes, only if full cost recovery is guaranteed for my municipality = B. No = C-. Full cost recovery is a named, checkable condition on a yes, so it takes the conditional-yes B. A No is C- rather than F because the question is about how services are organised and who runs them, which is the governance side of the split CLI-03 sits on the other side of. Unsure was typed C on three rows before 2026-09-13 and those rows were reset to blank on 2026-09-20, so the question now follows the shared policy. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-03 A
If elected, what three steps would you take to put your region or municipality on a firmer financial footing?
How this question is graded
“Real financial resilience comes from increasing the productivity of land that's already served by infrastructure: letting neighborhoods incrementally thicken, encouraging redevelopment where roads and pipes already exist, building more value per acre instead of more acres that need public maintenance.” The Strong Towns approach thinks about revenue vs liabilities and the cost of replacing infrastructure as a key driver of municipal financial success. Next-increment intensification or better allows improved use of pipes, roads, and wires, increasing the economic base for the city while lowering vacancies (examples, strongtowns.org , archive.strongtowns.org ). No credit was given for/against for either a) sharing costs with neighbouring governments or b) asking for money from higher levels of government, both of which may have additional merit beyond the boundaries of the muncipality. A-level (excellent) answer: 1. a comment about density being linked to financial wellbeing (revenue side), 2. a comment about efficient use of that revenue (expenses side), 3. thinking about infrastructure liabilities and how to pay for them given the intergenerational problems. B-level (good) answer considers some of these principles, but likely doesn't consider both revenue and expenses. C-level (mixed) - may have other ideas about arbitrary efficiencies and doesn't provide a mechanism for doing the work they propose (e.g. "fill up the reserve fund" -- with what money?). F - working in the opposite direction of resilience (e.g. arbitrary property tax increase caps), or doesn't answer the question (e.g. "my municipality is on firm financial footing").
Holly Courtright's answerFirst, I would create a long-term plan for maintaining Esquimalt’s roads, pipes, buildings, and other public assets. Reactive behaviour presents unpleasant and unpredictable costs. Regular maintenance is far less expensive than waiting until something fails and paying for an emergency repair.
Second, I would make sure new development pays a fair share of the infrastructure needed to support it. I have long advocated for the introduction of DCCs, so this would include establishing clear development charges, planning upgrades before growth occurs, and pursuing provincial and federal funding so existing taxpayers don't end up covering every cost.
Third, I would review municipal services, contracts, and regional partnerships to determine what they cost and whether they are producing good results. This is not about cutting services to save money. It is about reducing duplication, finding better ways to deliver services, and clearly showing residents what their taxes are paying for. - 17% of this topic GOV-04 A
Do you commit to eliminating mandatory parking minimums for all land uses in your municipality by 2030?
How this question is graded
Yes = A, No/Decline = F. Parking minimums are pseudoscience that should be eliminated from city codes everywhere, and have been eliminated in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Ottawa, and others across North America without any negative consequences (archive.strongtowns.org )
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - 17% of this topic REC-01 A
Do you support ensuring that local First Nations are represented in transit governance, such as on the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the CRD Transportation Commission?
Why this grade: Backs local First Nations holding seats on the commissions that govern transit in this region. A plain yes.
How this question is graded
Yes = A. No = C-, on the same reasoning as GOV-02 and TRN-04: the question is about who sits at the table, not about what gets built or funded. No candidate has answered No, so that letter is a rule rather than a record of how anyone was graded. Decline to answer is F where nothing explains it, and the Grade is left blank where the candidate explained the decline in the topic's comment box or answered the rest of the topic solidly. Unsure is left blank. A blank Grade drops the row out of the category rollup entirely; N/A is reserved for a question that does not apply to a candidate and never means ungraded.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 3 options - 17% of this topic REC-02 B
Concerning our municipal government’s First Nations’ reconciliation and consultation practices, I support:
How this question is graded
A = significantly more consultation practices. B = somewhat more. C = the current amount is enough. Written answers take the same ladder: A commits to partnership with local First Nations, B wants better consultation without committing to a change, C questions whether more is wanted. Nothing here has been graded C- or F.
Holly Courtright chose 1 of 7 options
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded GOV-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to governance, shared services, and municipal infrastructure, feel free to share your thoughts below.
Council needs to take responsibility in this area. Although the research and reporting is deferred to staff, it is ultimately the responsibility of elected officials to ensure that their decisions have been proactive enough to minimize the financial damage to consituents.
Infrastructure decisions cannot be made one project at a time. Housing, transportation, utilities, drainage, parks, public safety, and climate resilience all affect one another. If we know a road will require underground utility work, accessibility improvements, safer crossings, or drainage upgrades, those projects should be planned together. Digging up the same street repeatedly is expensive, disruptive, and avoidable.
Good governance means looking beyond the immediate decision, asking what happens next, and being honest about the long-term cost earlier rather than later. It also means reporting progress in plain language so residents can judge whether Council’s decisions are working. - Not graded REC-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to First Nation transit governance or consultation practices, feel free to share your thoughts below.
I honestly don't know how much consultative process with First Nations happens on this topic. I am making an assumption with my answer and I would answer differently when the question is regarding "municipal government's First Nations' reconciliation and consultation practices" genrally versus specifically about transit governance. This makes this question difficult to answer as you have combined 2 arguably unrelated things and conflated them to be representative of First Nations consultative process as a whole which I think is a stretch.
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