How to read this page. Each row below is one policy area, with Tanya Sunshine'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 Tanya Sunshine 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?
If I could add one municipal asset, it would be a dedicated community gathering hub in the heart of Langford. A welcoming, accessible space near City Hall and transit could include a community hall, public meetings and engagement events, recreation and programming, youth and seniors spaces, daycare, opportunities for arts and cultural activities, and flexible indoor and outdoor space for community and city events and gatherings.
Langford has many great facilities and gathering places throughout the city, but we do not have one true community hub that brings people of all ages together in this way. As our city grows, I would like to explore the efficiencies that could be gained by bringing some of these services and amenities together in one place, while pursuing partnerships, grants and other funding opportunities to help make it possible. A central hub could give residents a place to gather, participate, access programs and services, experience arts and culture, and feel connected to their community. - 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.
Tanya Sunshine's allocation of ten million dollars Housing $1,100,000 Transit $1,200,000 Walking Infrastructure $900,000 Rolling & Cycling Infrastructure $700,000 Roadway Infrastructure $1,100,000 Policing $550,000 Fire & Emergency Services $750,000 Parks & Recreation $1,000,000 Arts & Culture $800,000 Climate Action & Environment $900,000 Unhoused Resident Services $200,000 Community-Based Clinics $800,000 - 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 allocation reflects the balance I believe Langford needs: $3.9M for transportation, $1.3M for protective services, $1.9M for parks, recreation and the environment, and $2.9M for housing, homelessness, community based health care, arts and culture. It recognizes that a thriving city needs both strong infrastructure and services, and the social and community investments that help people thrive.
Langford has never been afraid to do things differently, and I hope we continue to carry that spirit forward. But we cannot do everything alone. Many of our biggest challenges cross municipal boundaries, making strong relationships with neighbouring municipalities, First Nations, other levels of government and community partners essential.
I want Langford to remain ambitious and uniquely Langford, while being collaborative, curious and open to new ideas. We can honour what built our city, strengthen our community today and plan thoughtfully for the generations who will call it home tomorrow.
Healthcare access
What Tanya Sunshine 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.
Working in a medical clinic, I see how vital access to primary care is. I am proud that Langford was willing to step outside the traditional municipal role and help create the Goldstream Medical Clinic when our community needed solutions.
I am also encouraged by the potential for another clinic as part of the proposed development on Happy Valley Road. Creative partnerships and using City owned land strategically can help bring even more healthcare options.
At the same time, we need to be careful that municipal innovation does not become an expectation that local property taxpayers take on responsibilities that properly belong to the Province. Healthcare is fundamentally a provincial responsibility.
I want Langford to remain a strong partner, advocate and problem solver, including bringing people together with healthcare services. But partnership should not become downloading. We should keep pushing the Province for the funding and healthcare resources our growing community needs.
Transit
F- 20% of this topic TRN-01 A
Which fare measures would you actively advocate for at the VRTC? Select all that apply.
Why this grade: Backs the full slate of free travel for under 19s, cheaper fares for seniors, cheaper fares for people on income or disability assistance and a lower cost regional monthly pass. No group of riders is left out, so the commitment covers the full list.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 4 of 6 options (up to 4 allowed) - 30% of this topic TRN-02 F
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: Marks the question of clearing general parking from busy transit streets as not applicable locally. The question was treated as not applying rather than answered, and no commitment on street space was offered in its place. Note: Langford is home to the Blink 95 Rapidbus which is the busiest transit route in the region, and which serves the core of Langford along Goldstream Ave and Jacklin Rd. Refusal to answer this question is indicative of poor understanding of Langford's current and future transit prospects, and is further indicative of a lack of support for transit. F grade given.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 6 options - 30% of this topic TRN-03 F
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: Records the question about rapid deployment of transit priority on frequent corridors as not applying to this municipality. The question was set aside as not applying, leaving no position on transit priority on the record. Note: Langford is home to the Blink 95 Rapidbus which is the busiest transit route in the region, and which serves the core of Langford along Goldstream Ave and Jacklin Rd. Refusal to answer this question is indicative of poor understanding of Langford's current and future transit prospects, and is further indicative of a lack of support for transit. F grade given.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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: Would establish a regional transportation authority covering the whole area. No reservation is recorded alongside the answer.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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: Supports new connections for buses and bicycles through parks, golf courses and public land, provided no mature trees are lost in building them. The tree protection is a concrete threshold, which keeps the answer a conditional 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.
Tanya Sunshine 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.
I would like to see our region think bigger and longer term about transit, including exploring light rail connecting the Westshore with Victoria, UVic, the airport and ferry terminal, as well as commuter rail connecting communities up Island.
Closer to home, I would advocate for increased BC Transit frequency and better routes and connections within Langford, giving residents more realistic alternatives to driving. I would also like to see Langford represented on the BC Transit Board so the needs of our growing community have a direct voice.
Transit must also work for everyone. That means improving accessibility at stops and connections to them, including safe pedestrian access, appropriate boarding areas, seating and shelters where possible.
Ultimately, I want a connected regional transportation network that gives people practical choices for getting to work, school, appointments and where they need to go.
Housing
F- HFL-01 6 / 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
Tanya Sunshine chose 6 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-02 5 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 5 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-03 0 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-04 0 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 2 of 8 options - HFL-05 0 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 3 options - HFL-06 0 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine 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.
Tanya Sunshine 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-09 1 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 3 of 9 options (up to 7 allowed) - HFL-11 1 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-10 7 / 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.
Tanya Sunshine's answer1st Year
• Continue strong housing delivery. Langford has already exceeded its provincial housing targets, so success should be measured not only by the number of homes approved, but also are we creating the range of housing our community needs.
• Work toward at least 600 new homes, including apartments, townhomes, duplexes and other ground oriented and family friendly options, while also ensuring infrastructure and services keep pace with growth.
• Identify opportunities to expand affordable, attainable and non market housing through partnerships with non profits, senior governments, First Nations and the development community.
• Review barriers that may prevent approved housing from actually being built and determine where the City can reasonably help.
• Continue leveraging municipal land, reserve funds, grants and partnerships to attract outside investment rather than placing the full cost on Langford taxpayers.
4th Year
• Maintain strong housing delivery while achieving a broader mix of homes for renters, families, first time buyers, seniors, people with disabilities and residents at different income levels and stages of life.
• Make meaningful progress on deeply affordable and supportive housing. People living in poverty, experiencing homelessness, struggling with mental health or needing additional supports are part of our community too. The City of Langford cannot solve these challenges alone, but we can advocate and work with the Province, health and housing agencies and non profits to bring funding, housing and supports to Langford.
• Strengthen partnerships with non profit housing providers, First Nations, provincial and federal governments and regional partners.
• Better connect housing decisions with transit, infrastructure, parks, services and amenities so growth supports the community it creates.
• Greater housing choice, affordability and the ability for more people to find a home in Langford that works for their circumstances and stage of life.
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: Would stop the advertising but not the sponsorship, and has not decided about pressing it at the transit commission. Both halves of the answer are left incomplete.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 6 options Follow-up: Tanya Sunshine 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: Would carry climate as a funded leading priority. The plan would resource it rather than be governed by it.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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: Yes, unqualified. Fossil fuel lobbyists would be told no before they asked.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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: Supports the legal action as put. Nothing narrows the commitment once it is given.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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 writing the ban into zoning. That is the strongest answer this question offers.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-06 B
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: Backs rule making, information and staffed centres. Retrofit money and assessments are both missing, which limits how far it reaches into homes.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 3 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: A yes with no conditions. The tools would be phased out rather than discouraged.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-08 C
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: Support only under terms defined later. The answer names nothing that a proposal must meet.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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 risks and provides concrete strategies grounded in their local context.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerLangford faces several interconnected climate risks, including wildfire and smoke, extreme heat and drought, and increasingly intense storms and rainfall that can contribute to flooding and put pressure on infrastructure. As our community grows, I believe climate resilience needs to be considered in the everyday decisions we make about infrastructure, development, emergency preparedness and our natural environment.
I would continue the work already underway through Langford’s Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan and FireSmart initiatives, including vegetation management, neighbourhood preparedness and protecting critical infrastructure. I also believe we need to think carefully about emergency access and evacuation as we grow, particularly in neighbourhoods near forested areas.
Our urban forest is another important part of resilience. Protecting existing trees where possible and expanding canopy, particularly in areas with less shade, can help reduce extreme heat, manage stormwater and support biodiversity. Protecting natural areas, wetlands and other green infrastructure can provide many of those same benefits.
We also need to make sure our stormwater systems and infrastructure are being planned for the conditions we expect in the future, not simply those we experienced in the past. During extreme heat, accessible cooling spaces, shade, drinking water and clear public information become particularly important for seniors, unhoused residents, people with disabilities and others who may be more vulnerable.
I would support continuing to develop and implement Langford’s climate planning through practical, measurable actions and pursuing provincial and federal funding wherever possible. For me, climate adaptation is not about one large initiative. It is about building resilience into the decisions we make today so our community, infrastructure and natural spaces are better prepared for the generations that follow. - 8% of this topic CLI-10 A
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: Identifies clear, actionable strategies to improve resilience through development relevent to their local context.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerAs Langford continues to grow, I think we need to be intentional about protecting the natural connections we still have and finding opportunities to rebuild them where they have been lost. Parks, forests, creeks, wetlands, trails and our urban tree canopy should not be looked at as completely separate pieces. Together they form a network that supports wildlife, biodiversity and a healthier community.
I would focus on implementing the plans Langford has already done the work to create, including our OCP, Urban Forest Management Plan and Parks and Trails Master Plan. That means protecting important natural areas and habitat corridors where possible, expanding our tree canopy, using native and climate resilient planting, and looking for opportunities to connect green spaces through parks, trails, creek corridors and development.
As new development occurs, I would want us to look at land dedication strategically. Can it expand an existing natural area, protect an important ecosystem or help connect two green spaces rather than becoming an isolated piece of land?
I also believe we need to look beyond our municipal boundaries and work with neighbouring municipalities, First Nations, including Elders and Indigenous land stewards, and regional partners.
Langford will continue to grow. For me, the goal is to make sure that as we build the city around us, we also protect and strengthen the natural systems that make it a healthy and beautiful place to call home. - 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: Clearly supports improving resilience through development, but does not provide specifics about how this would take shape in their local context.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerYes. I see development as an opportunity to build climate resilience into our community from the beginning. I would like the City to work with developers early and, where appropriate, have development contribute to the resilience measures and infrastructure its growth requires.
That can mean retaining mature trees and natural features where possible, expanding tree canopy to provide shade and reduce heat, using native and climate resilient landscaping, improving stormwater management and natural drainage, and considering wildfire resilience. I would also explore having developers contribute to stewardship of nearby natural areas during construction, such as removing invasive species and restoring native vegetation, while ensuring new trees and landscaping are successfully established after construction.
Development will continue to be part of Langford’s future. We should ask how it can give something back to the surrounding environment and leave an area more resilient than we found it, without placing the cost of growth entirely on existing residents. - 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?
Why this grade: Yes to making climate ready drainage and greenery a requirement of new development. The answer accepts a rule rather than encouragement.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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.
Climate and environmental concerns first drew me into becoming active in my community and city hall. I watched rapid development, seeing trees and natural areas disappear, and questioning whether we were thinking enough about what we were losing and leaving behind. It pushed me to learn, ask questions and understand how decisions were made.
That is why I am encouraged by the direction of this Mayor and Council. Langford now has its first Urban Forest Management Plan, a new OCP that embeds climate resilience into how we grow, wildfire resilience planning, and our first Climate Action Plan underway.
Langford will continue to grow. I want to help carry these plans into meaningful action, protect and restore what we can, and leave a healthier, more resilient Langford. We have made important progress, but there is more we can do and learn. Climate resilience and the health of our natural environment need to remain at the forefront of decisions we make as our city and region grows.
Arts
B- 6.67% of this topic ART-01 3 / 3
Do you consider arts and culture to be a core part of your municipality's economic development strategy?
Why this score: Clearly connects arts and culture to economic development, local business, jobs, public spaces and community identity, and identifies concrete municipal roles including spaces, barriers, partnerships and grants.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: I see arts and culture as both an important part of economic development and part of what turns a growing city into a community people feel connected to.
Arts and culture bring people into our city, support local artists and businesses, create jobs and activity, enliven public spaces and give people reasons to stay, gather and spend locally. The Langford Station is a great example of how creativity, small business, events and community gathering can work together.
I am proud to see Langford placing greater emphasis on arts and culture through its first Arts and Culture Strategy. I see the City's role as helping create the conditions for arts and culture to grow by providing welcoming spaces, reducing unnecessary barriers, supporting events and public art, building partnerships and pursuing grants and outside funding.
As Langford grows, I would love to see arts and culture become an even bigger part of our identity, our downtown and the community we are building together. - 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: Commits to moving Langford’s Arts and Culture Strategy into action and identifies a four-year goal of at least one additional dedicated/shared arts or cultural space. However, most four-year outcomes remain broad rather than measurable, reference to the new arts and culture strategy and referencing actioning of said strategy is helpful, though not the strongest in identifying municipal interventions, tools and policies to bring to fruition.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine's answerIn my first year, I would commit to helping move Langford’s new Arts and Culture Strategy from plan to action. I would work with staff, local artists, cultural organizations, businesses and community partners to identify the first priorities we can realistically advance, while also pursuing grants and partnerships to stretch municipal dollars further.
I would particularly like to build on the success of the Langford Station and create more opportunities for local artists, performances, public art, cultural events and accessible programming throughout our community.
By the end of four years, I would want residents to see and feel a difference: more opportunities to experience and participate in arts and culture, more places for local artists and performers to share their work, and arts and culture becoming a more visible part of our public spaces, events and community identity. I would like to see at least one additional dedicated or shared space for arts and cultural programming.
That could be part of a future community gathering hub, or through partnerships and creative use of spaces that already exist in our community, including exploring opportunities with Royal Roads University’s John Horgan Campus.
Success to me would be more people participating, more local artists being supported and more opportunities for residents of all ages and backgrounds to experience arts and culture close to home. - 13.33% of this topic ART-03 3 / 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: Combines nonprofit partnerships for permanent cultural assets, regulatory review and regional cultural-space coordination, providing a substantive implementation framework.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine chose 3 of 11 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-04 3 / 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: Selects simplified events, zoning review and disproportionate-cost review along with extensive administrative reforms.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine chose 7 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 development/amenity contributions, nonprofit acquisition and municipal leverage funding, alongside regional infrastructure funding and leases.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine chose 5 of 16 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-06 1 / 3
Municipal budgets require difficult choices. Would you support maintaining arts and culture investment alongside other core municipal services?
Why this score: Supports arts and culture only if new revenue sources are identified, making the commitment conditional.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine 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: Explicitly requires replacement cultural space or equivalent community benefit.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine 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: Selects a development-space requirement/incentive and private-owner property-tax incentives for long-term affordable cultural space, both high-impact mechanisms.
How this question is graded
Tanya Sunshine chose 3 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.
I think arts and culture are fundamental to who we are as people and to the health of any society. Long before we had cities or governments, people made music, told stories, created art, danced and passed traditions from one generation to the next. We still do, because these are some of the ways we make sense of the world and understand each other.
Art can make us happy, uncomfortable, curious or inspired. It can preserve history, challenge how we think, give people a voice and help us understand experiences very different from our own. Culture connects us to where we came from and gives us something to share and pass on.
The value of all of this can be hard to measure on a balance sheet, but we would absolutely notice if it wasn't there. I want Langford to be a place where creativity has room to grow, where we continue to find ways to experience art, music, culture and each other. This matters, as they bring life into a community and help us feel connected to the place we call home.
Rolling & cycling
B- 15% of this topic ROL-01 A
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: Commits to working with the regional district to finish the E&N Rail Trail west of Jacklin Road, while prioritising the local walking, cycling and rolling links onto it so the network works as one system rather than separate pieces. A named extension, with the connection logic behind it.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: Work with the CRD to advance completion of the E&N Rail Trail west of Jacklin Rd, while prioritizing safe local walking, cycling and rolling connections to the trail so our active transportation network functions as a connected system rather than a collection of disconnected pieces. - 15% of this topic ROL-02 B
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: Accepts physical protection as the standard on busy streets except where it is physically impossible. That exception can be tested, which keeps the answer one band under a plain yes.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 5 options - 15% of this topic ROL-03 C
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: Would take each proposal to remove, narrow or downgrade an existing lane on its own merits rather than opposing them. Deciding one at a time sets no test and reserves nothing.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic ROL-04 A
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: Picks the Jacklin Road, Station Avenue and rail trail connection plus the longer extension west toward Humpback, explaining that the trail brings people from across the region into the heart of the city and then simply stops. The highway crossing is treated as a later goal needing senior government money rather than local taxes, which keeps the near term priority clear.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerI would focus on the Jacklin Rd, Station Ave and E&N connection, while advocating for the longer term extension of the E&N west toward Humpback. The E&N brings people from across the region into the heart of Langford and then ends at Jacklin. Our new Active Transportation Plan identifies improvements here as high priorities, including protected cycling and accessibility improvements, while the E&N extension would eventually connect more neighbourhoods directly to our city centre and regional trail network.
I am also very interested in the proposed Highway 1 active transportation overpass. Connecting north and south Langford is an important long term goal, but given the scale and cost, I would want to pursue senior government partnerships and significant outside funding rather than place that burden primarily on Langford taxpayers.
For me, the priority is connecting the pieces we already have while working toward the larger connections our growing city will need. It would be great to hear from residents on this as well. - 35% of this topic ROL-05 B
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: Took on a missing school crossing in a previous neighbourhood that others had been refused, found the right people inside the city, kept following up, and got it moving within weeks. One concrete result won through persistence, outside this region and before any council role.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerBefore moving to Langford, I lived in the Boundary Park neighbourhood in Surrey, where families were concerned about the lack of a safe crossing on a route many children used to get to school. A crosswalk had been requested before but had not moved forward and I was told to not even bother.
I took it on, started asking questions, found the right people within the City to speak with and kept following up. To my surprise, something that neighbours had been trying to get addressed for a long time moved forward within weeks.
It may seem like a small thing, but it felt like a huge win for the families and neighbours who had been asking for a safer crossing for years. It also taught me something I have carried with me ever since: sometimes making change starts with understanding who to talk to, asking the right questions, listening, and being willing to keep at it until you find a way forward.
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 spent years mountain biking competitively, so I have always loved being on a bike. But I also recognize that most people are not going to ride everywhere, and I don't think that should be the goal.
Now I see active transportation as a parent too. Because of the new pedestrian and cycling overpass in Colwood, my son can safely bike to school. It gives him independence and gives me peace of mind knowing he has a safer way to get there.
To me, active transportation is about giving people real choices. Someone should be able to walk to the store, let their teenager bike to a friend's house, use a mobility device in their neighbourhood, or ride to work without feeling unsafe.
Cars will remain important in Langford. Better walking, rolling and cycling connections give people another option when it works for them and can help take pressure off our roads.
Walking
B- 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: Indicates little interest in multimodal planning or TDM.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-02 A
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: Names the gaps where sidewalks end and crossings are missing, and what that means for someone using a wheelchair, walker or stroller. Commits to continuing the sidewalk infill work with missing links to schools, transit, parks and shops first, and to making the shopping areas walkable between each other.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerThe pedestrian safety issue that concerns me most is gaps in our sidewalk network and crossings that can make a short walk feel unsafe or impractical. We still have places where sidewalks end, safe crossings are missing, or someone using a wheelchair, walker or stroller faces a difficult route.
In my first term, I would commit to continuing Langford's sidewalk infill work, prioritizing missing links to schools, transit, parks, shopping and other everyday destinations. I would also like to improve walkability within and between our major shopping areas, where getting from one store or centre to another can sometimes be easier by car even when the distance is short.
Langford has made significant progress on pedestrian infrastructure, and I want to keep that momentum going. If we want people to walk for short trips, the route needs to work from beginning to end. Closing those gaps can make walking a safer, more convenient and realistic choice. - 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: A moderate increase, plainly backed. The limit is what separates this from the top answer.
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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: Yes, on a pilot basis. The answer tries the change rather than committing to it.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 6 options - 20% of this topic WLK-05 A
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: You recognize that parents and school staff see what a traffic study misses, and would carry those voices to municipal staff, the school district and transportation professionals, continue the safe routes to school work, keep regular communication with school communities and rank improvements by safety, accessibility and evidence. Saying plainly that you would accept a little less convenience for drivers where children walk and play settles the trade this question puts to you.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerParents and school staff see things that may not always show up in a traffic study.
They know where children are crossing, where drivers are moving too quickly, where visibility is poor and where families simply don't feel safe. I would make sure those voices are heard, then work with municipal staff, SD62 and our transportation professionals to identify the right solutions.
Langford has made significant progress on Safe Routes to School, and I want that work to continue. I would support regular communication with school communities, reviewing concerns as they arise and prioritizing improvements based on safety, accessibility and evidence.
Traffic needs to move, but around schools and places where children walk and play, safety has to come first. Sometimes that may mean slowing vehicles, changing a crossing or accepting a little less convenience for drivers. I think that is a reasonable trade when the result is children being able to move around their neighbourhood safely. - 20% of this topic WLK-06 A
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: A friend's fall on a loose paver shows you how a small maintenance defect becomes a broken bone, and over four years you would review pedestrian routes through an accessibility lens while inviting seniors, people with disabilities and parents with strollers to point out the hazards, ranking uneven surfaces, curb cuts, crossings, missing connections and access to transit, shopping and medical services by safety and need, with realistic timelines in capital and maintenance planning. Treating a maintenance defect as a safety matter rather than a housekeeping one is the shift this question needs.
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.
Tanya Sunshine's answerI have an older friend who tripped on a loose paver in Langford and broke a bone, so I have seen how something that may look like a small maintenance issue can have serious consequences.
Over four years, I would support a systematic review of pedestrian routes through an accessibility lens, while inviting seniors, people with disabilities, parents with strollers and all other residents to identify specific locations where they encounter hazards or barriers. The people using these routes every day can help us find problems we may otherwise miss.
I would prioritize uneven surfaces, curb cuts, crossings, missing connections and accessibility around transit, shopping, medical services and other everyday destinations. Identified improvements should then be prioritized by safety and need, incorporated into capital and maintenance planning, and given realistic timelines.
Accessibility should be part of how we design and maintain our pedestrian network from the beginning, not something we fix afterward.
Also shared, ungraded
- Not graded WLK-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to add in regards to walking or pedestrian activity in your municipality, feel free to share your thoughts below.
I think there is something about experiencing your community on foot that changes your relationship with it. You notice the small things. You see your neighbours, discover a trail you didn't know was there, stop at a local business just experience your neighbourhood at a different pace.
As Langford grows and builds new infrastructure, I want pedestrian safety and accessibility considered from the beginning. Whether we are rebuilding a road, designing an intersection, adding infrastructure or planning a new neighbourhood, we should be asking how someone on foot will safely and comfortably move through it, rather than trying to solve those problems afterward.
For me, walkability is also about community building. When people can comfortably walk through their neighbourhoods and to everyday destinations, there are more opportunities to see each other, interact and feel connected to where we live. As we continue building our city, I want us to keep building the community within it too.
Governance
B- 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.
Tanya Sunshine 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: Would set up the regional service. Nothing in the answer is made contingent.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-03 B
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").
Tanya Sunshine's answer1) Broaden the tax base: Encourage commercial and employment generating development that strengthens Langford's economy, diversifies the tax base and reduces pressure on residential taxpayers.
2) Make growth contribute: Use development cost charges, amenity contributions and other growth related revenues to help fund the infrastructure and amenities needed to support growth. Fund ongoing services with reliable recurring revenues, while planning for the long term repair and replacement of municipal assets.
3) Work regionally: Look for services and infrastructure that can be delivered more efficiently with neighbouring municipalities and the CRD, while aggressively pursuing provincial and federal grants, partnerships and cost sharing opportunities. - 17% of this topic GOV-04 F
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 )
Tanya Sunshine 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: Would guarantee representation on the bodies that run transit. Plainly stated.
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.
Tanya Sunshine chose 1 of 3 options - 17% of this topic REC-02 A
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.
Tanya Sunshine 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.
Langford has never been afraid to do things differently, and that willingness to think outside the box is part of what makes our city unique. Good governance means bringing that same curiosity to the council table: reading the reports, asking questions, listening to residents and staff, considering new information and making thoughtful decisions.
It has to mean and be about looking beyond the shiny object or the ribbon cutting. When we invest in something, we should understand what it will cost to operate, maintain and eventually replace, and could we accomplish more by partnering with another municipality, the CRD or a community organization? We need to take care of what residents already rely on while planning responsibly for what comes next. And when we ask residents for their input, we should close the loop by sharing what we heard, what we can act on and why some things may not be possible. We can remain distinctly Langford while being open to good ideas and strong partnerships. - 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 believe meaningful consultation with First Nations begins with listening. Before arriving with solutions, I think we need to hear the perspectives, knowledge and priorities of the Nations whose lands we live, work and travel on, and understand where there is common ground.
There is so much we can learn from First Nations and from Indigenous knowledge by hearing how these lands were used, who travelled them, and how communities were connected long before the transportation systems we know today existed. That history can also help inform how we think about movement, access and connection now.
For me, reconciliation is about building respectful relationships that continue beyond a single project or consultation. It means meeting, listening, learning and working together to turn shared ideas into practical outcomes. When we make decisions about transit, transportation and the land around us, I believe we should be thinking not only about what works today, but about how we can coexist respectfully and what we are leaving for the generations that follow.
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