How to read this page. Each row below is one policy area, with Teale Phelps Bondaroff'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 Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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?
Fully complete the strategies and actions Saanich's Active Transportation Plan. The average Canadian household spends ~$12,090 per year on transportation, and some estimates for Saanich suggest that the average annual vehicle cost for Saanich households could be as high as $28,344 (see Saanich's 2026 Climate Plan, p.35). As life continues to get more expensive, we need to ensure that Saanich residents have safe, convenient, and connected active transportation options, and fast, frequent, accessible, and reliable public transportation options that they can afford. The completion of the plan will also help address traffic concerns by shifting more trips towards more efficient and sustainable forms of transportation. - 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's allocation of ten million dollars Housing $4,000,000 Transit $750,000 Walking Infrastructure $625,000 Rolling & Cycling Infrastructure $836,000 Roadway Infrastructure $250,000 Policing $0 Fire & Emergency Services $100,000 Parks & Recreation $500,000 Arts & Culture $25,000 Climate Action & Environment $664,000 Unhoused Resident Services $500,000 Community-Based Clinics $1,750,000 - 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 past term, I have worked tirelessly to tackle the many challenges faced by our community. We need leaders who are willing to make bold, thoughtful decisions today so future generations inherit a stronger community and a more equitable and stable world.
I believe councillors should be proactive leaders who make well-informed decisions to improve the overall well-being of the community today and into the future. A councillor must connect with a diversity of people to better understand the challenges they are facing, especially people who may not have the time, resources, or ability to participate through traditional channels.
This is one reason why I helped launch the Student Youth Council pilot project, in partnership with local high schools, to meet young people where they are and hear their priorities on their terms. I will work to make this a permanent advisory committee that has the same level of support from the District as our existing advisory committees. I also hold regular weekly office hours at a local Saanich cafe, where anyone can sign up and have a face-to-face chat about the issues that matter to them, something I will continue into the future.
I bring my extensive background in research to council and I take an evidence-based approach to decision making. Learning from research in fields like urban planning, and from other municipalities’ successes, and metrics like vacancy rates, tree canopy coverage, and population projections has immense value in helping us prioritize limited resources.
I also believe in empowering community members to make a difference in their own neighbourhoods. Sometimes that looks like helping people navigate the complexities of local government; sometimes it’s filling a policy gap; and sometimes it’s bringing neighbours together. Working in cooperation with residents and local advocates, I regularly bring community concerns forward to council, including pushing for menstrual equity, advocating for people with unseen disabilities, and presenting options for tackling noise pollution.
You can read my full platform, and learn more about my experience, research, and advocacy work at: www.teale.ca
Healthcare access
What Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
Local governments have a role to play in tackling the primary healthcare shortage. Working with Family Doctors for Saanich and local non-profit health care providers, I have been advocating for ways Saanich can connect more residents with primary care.
This term, I advanced and supported motions to create density bonusing and other incentives to build more clinics; implementing permissive tax exemptions for non-profit clinics; and advocating to the Province to remove barriers to implementing team-based care. I will continue to champion a wide range of strategies and strike a healthcare advisory committee to explore other ways to improve access to primary care in Saanich.
Moving forward, I want to explore the possibility of building a municipal clinic, similar to the Langford model. We already have a great space that will soon be available, the temporary Nellie McClung Library site, which could be converted into a municipal clinic when the books are done with their temporary stay.
Transit
A- 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: Every fare measure was selected: 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. The complete ask is backed.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 4 of 6 options (up to 4 allowed) - 30% of this topic TRN-02 B
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: Would remove general street parking from transit corridors only when a specific project calls for it, which leaves the default corridor unchanged and puts the burden on each project to make its own case. That is partial support, so it lands under a full yes.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: Yes to rapid transit priority on frequent corridors, parking or a general traffic lane included. The answer carries no conditions.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: Supports creating a regional transportation authority, with a plain yes and nothing attached.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 3 options - 10% of this topic TRN-05 A
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 only and bike only connections through parks, golf courses and public land where trips would be substantially shorter. Nothing qualifies the answer.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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'm a fierce defender of increasing access to fast, frequent, accessible, and reliable transit service, as demonstrated by my record on council. We need to ensure that transit expansion meets existing community needs without creating new challenges. Making sure there is a strong foundation for an effective transit network, including expanded transit infrastructure like the new Saanich Transit Centre, larger vehicle fleets, and fair wages and safe conditions for workers will allow us to build out a transit network that meets the demands of our growing region.
I believe in moving towards free transit for all in a way that preserves and expands existing service. This past term, I fought for free transit for youth and seniors, and will continue this work.
When BC Transit's contract with Umo expires, we must prioritize identifying a service provider based in Canada instead of maintaining a multi-million dollar contract with a US-based transportation and defence contractor.
Housing
A- 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
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 6 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-03 6 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-04 5 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 7 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 3 options - HFL-06 6 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 6 options - HFL-07 3 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-09 5 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 7 of 9 options (up to 7 allowed) - HFL-11 6 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-12 6 / 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerCouncil has made considerable progress on the housing file this term, but there is more work to be done. During the first year of this coming term, I will continue to;
- Support the implementation of our Rapid Deployment of Non-Market Housing Program;
- Fast track the review of non-market housing;
- Maintain dedicated planners to support non-market housing applications;
- Ensure the Saanich Affordable Housing Reserve Fund (SAHRF) is adequately funded;
- Maintain other measures that reduce construction costs for the delivery of affordable housing (Community Amenity Contribution (CAC) Waivers, Development Cost Charge (DCC) reductions, and permissive tax exemptions where appropriate).
- Support the implementation of a density bonusing framework, that incentivizes the construction of amenities including childcare facilities, clinics, and affordable housing.
Within four years, I want Saanich to surpass our provincial housing targets (which represent only 75% of the anticipated housing need in the District), with particular focus on the non-market, below market, family-sized, and supportive components of this target. As a strong supporter of housing, I will continue to advocate for the Province to do their part to provide student, below-market, and supportive housing in the District. I also hope to advance solutions that help make sure our residents have at least one room in their home that provides a cool environment during extreme heat.
30% of this topic Incumbent record 29 / 29What Teale Phelps Bondaroff did about housing during their current term, scored by Homes for Living. This is not a questionnaire answer: no candidate was asked it.
Why this score: 96%
Scored from Homes for Living's vote tracker.
Climate
A- 8% of this topic CLI-01 A
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: Clears fossil fuel promotion from municipal property and events, and pushes for the same on transit. The answer is complete on both sides.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 6 options Follow-up: Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: A dedicated budget and a high ranking. The answer commits resources without making climate the deciding test.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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, stated without hedging. The candidate accepts a restriction on their own access, which is the point of the pledge.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-04 B
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: Yes, with a bound on what the municipality pays. The commitment is real and it is not open ended.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: Commits to prohibiting new and expanded stations. The answer accepts the land use consequence rather than deferring it.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 3 options - 8% of this topic CLI-06 A
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: A complete selection. Direct help to households sits alongside the bylaw and the public campaign rather than being replaced by them.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 4 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 bylaw. Following municipalities that have already acted is the practical route and the candidate takes it.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: Rules them out without exception. The answer takes the top of the scale and asks for nothing in return.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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 and provides concrete strategies to address them.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerFlooding -> Support stormwater management planning and wetland preservation.
Fire -> Public education and outreach around fire mitigation and prevention, and design guidelines that emphasize fire mitigation.
Heat domes -> Right to cool, cooling centres, supporting Saanich Volunteer Society for outreach to vulnerable populations during heat waves, maintain and foster partnerships with community organizations to provide Extreme Weather Response shelters (Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Broadview United Church, and more), and fully fund and implement the Urban Forest Strategy.
Population displacement -> Incorporate climate pressures into long-term community planning.
Biodiversity impacts (species loss, invasive species, overpopulation) -> fully fund and implement the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy.
Overall -> Public education and outreach around community resilience actions, including emergency preparedness planning; supporting community-driven implementation of preparedness infrastructure like emergency benches and supply caches (eg. Victoria's Neighbour Hubs). - 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: Connects the points between plans and how they can work together to support ecosystem connectivity. Identifies clear local examples and how they fit into the larger picture of connectivity.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerSaanich's Biodiversity Conservation and Urban Forest Strategies provide comprehensive blueprints for how we can maintain and enhance biodiversity and our urban forest, respectively. We need to fully fund and implement both of these critical strategies.
We also need to support the health of natural areas like Swan Lake, PKOLS, and Panama Flats, and to address ongoing and emerging issues with the necessary funding and policies. We should also ensure that our parkland acquisition strategy is harmonized with the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy to prioritize ecosystem connectivity and the development and maintenance of wildlife corridors. - 8% of this topic CLI-11 A
Do you see development as an opportunity to increase resilience to climate-related events, and if so, how?
Why this grade: Clearly provides strategies on both the zoomed in development scale as well as the larger planning picture and how those both work toegher to improve resilience through development.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerYes, development creates opportunities to increase our resilience to climate-related events. The buildings we build now will be in place for the next 50-80 years, and the way that they are built will shape the health and safety of residents as well as the resiliency of our communities. We can ensure our communities are resilient by ensuring that buildings comply with BC Energy and BC Zero Carbon Step Code requirements; include adequate cooling systems; and integrate flood-resistant landscaping, shade trees, and drought-tolerant greenery.
In addition to incorporating climate considerations into specific construction projects, Saanich's overall development strategy of planning for more compact, walkable, and transit-oriented communities can improve community resiliency by connecting neighbours, providing more (and more accessible) options for transportation and services, and tackling affordability issues. We can strengthen our communities' abilities to respond to climate-related events and empower residents to protect themselves and their neighbours from the foreseeable impacts of the climate crisis through long-term planning, such as our Centre, Corridor, and Village (CCV) plans. - 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
More connected, compact, transit-oriented, and walkable communities have lower climate impacts and are better positioned to respond to the consequences of climate change, and have other important benefits. Well-designed municipal climate policies can improve affordability, community connection, food security, public health, and economic resiliency (which is especially relevant in light of ongoing global economic instability).
I'm proud to serve on the board of Climate Caucus, a non-partisan, national non-profit that supports elected officials to enact, and advocate for, climate initiatives that meet the urgency of our times. Sharing best practices (like Saanich's award-winning Biodiversity Conservation and Urban Forest Strategies) allows us to continually improve our climate policies and keep leading the way on environmental issues.
As someone who has worked on marine plastic pollution issues for years, I am committed to seeing Saanich's Zero Waste Strategy fully implemented.
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: Provides extensive evidence of a municipal role through grants, space, policy, programming and public art, including concrete recent policy work.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: The municipality can foster the arts through grants, space, policy, and programming. This term on council, I supported a new grants policy to make sure insurance costs are not a barrier to large community events.
The municipality should empower residents to advance local art and placemaking initiatives through micro-grants. I'm passionate about the intersection of road safety and art, and spearheaded the development of Saanich’s Street Mural Guidelines and the Districts first road mural, and strongly support the Districts Community Mural Program.
We must continue celebrating art through programs like Saanich's poet laureate, displays in Saanich facilities, the inclusion of artist spaces at community events (like Music in the Park), celebrating local art and artists in our website and publications, and requiring the inclusion of public art as part of certain new development projects. In particular, we have a role to play in highlighting and supporting Indigenous art and artists. - 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: Provides specific first-year and four-year actions, including exploring a low-barrier micro-grant program and dedicating staff capacity to help residents access grants. However, the first-year commitment is framed as exploration rather than implementation, and the four-year commitments do not establish a clear measurable program outcome.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerIn the first year, I will explore the implementation of low-barrier micro-grant programs to foster small but significant art, placemaking, and community-building initiatives.
At the end of the four-year term, I want to have hired a social planner or dedicate staff time to help residents navigate Saanich's Community Grants program, lowering barriers to seeing amazing projects flourish across the District.
I will continue to support the ongoing poet laureate program throughout the term, and ensure the longevity of our Community Mural Program. - 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: Supports an inventory, long-term affordability/stability tools and a municipal cultural-space strategy.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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 published standards/criteria, permitting coordination, zoning review and disproportionate-cost review, but not the full dedicated permitting-reform package.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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 increased municipal infrastructure funding, leveraging outside capital, nonprofit acquisition and long-term leases.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 4 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
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 5 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-07 1 / 3
When a major development project affects an existing cultural space, what should your municipality prioritize?
Why this score: Uses an overall-community-benefit standard rather than specifically prioritizing preservation or replacement.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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 meaningful development requirements/incentives and continuance of nonprofit property-tax relief, plus fee reductions.
How this question is graded
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
I was raised by two lovely artist parents who taught art classes out of our home, and took my sister and I out into the world on numerous painting trips and volunteering endeavours. They gave me a constant example of what it looks like to connect with people and lift up others, and instilled in me a profound desire to make the world a better place.
We live in a time of extraordinary change, with interconnected crises like climate change, economic inequality, the spread of mis- and disinformation, and the rise of fascism in America. In times like these it may be easy to think that art is a "nice to have," but on the contrary, at times like these art is all the more essential. Art can help us imagine better futures and possibilities we haven't thought of yet, help us to express our emotions, and connect with others. Local artists deserve to be lifted up and supported, and celebrated by their communities, and the municipality has a fundamental role to play.
Rolling & cycling
A- 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 rapidly connecting existing pieces of the network into a usable whole, and names the Dieppe, Quadra and Chatterton connector along with the bike lane that ends at the bottom of the hill on Glanford north of McKenzie. Both a method for choosing which links come first and the links themselves.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: While I will seek to prioritize as many aspects of the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) as possible, some aspects can be implemented more quickly or act as pre-requisites for the fulfillment of other ATP targets. As a result, I prioritize rapidly implementing safe and physically-protected connections between existing active transportation infrastructure to ensure a comprehensive, usable, connected network that facilitates active transportation routes across Saanich.
Some examples of missing links include the Dieppe/Quadra/Chatterton connector and the bike lane which terminates at the bottom of the hill going north on Glanford from McKenzie. - 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: This question asks about supporting a design standard to establish a level of safety. Infrastructure is not "physically impossible"; it is a question of cost and assessing alternatives. Qualifying an answer with "except where physically impossible" leaves an easy out because many obstacles initially appear impossible to overcome. Hard work is needed to identify viable solutions.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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 existing protected bike lanes and all ages and abilities infrastructure, with no conditions on the answer.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: Identifies pedestrian and cycling improvements on Blenkinsop and Maplewood between Cook Street and Cedar Hill Cross Road, and sets out the deficiencies precisely: vehicle speed on a narrow winding road with a large hill, missing sidewalks, open ditches, fragmentary bike lanes and bus stops with no shelter. The reasoning connects one corridor to everyone who has to use it.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerWhile there are many important projects listed in the Active Transportation Plan, the comprehensive pedestrian and cycling improvements on Blenkinsop/Maplewood Road between Cook Street and Cedar Hill Cross Road are of particular note.
Blenkinsop/Maplewood Road is a narrow, winding road with a large hill. Vehicles drive quickly and at night, this can be especially dangerous; I talked to one resident who got first aid training because drivers kept crashing into the hydro pole in front of her house.
There are also a lot of pedestrian connections across this road, such as the Derby connector. There are a lack of sidewalks, open ditches, bike lane fragments, and bus stops without benches/shelters on the side of the road. Improvements to this road would make it much safer and easier for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and transit riders to use. - 35% of this topic ROL-05 A
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: Fought to fully fund and accelerate the Active Transportation Plan and cast the only vote against a budget that cut $647,000 from it, alongside road safety resolutions at UBCM, the Speed Limit Establishment Policy, the Road Safety Action Plan and making traffic calming permanent rather than a pilot. Earlier work includes ending the BC Ferries bike fee.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerDuring this term on council I:
- Fought to fully fund and accelerate the Active Transportation Plan.
- Was the only councillor to vote against the most recent budget because it cut $647,000 from active transportation funding.
- Advanced eleven Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) resolutions on issues relating too road safety.
- Supported the implementation of the Speed Limit Establishment Policy.
- Voted for the Road Safety Action Plan (and helped refine this plan in my capacity as chair of Saanich's Transportation Advisory Committee).
- Supported the District's Traffic Calming Strategy and fought to have it become a permanent project, rather than a pilot.
Prior to my time on council I:
- Successfully advocated for the removal of the $2 bike fee charged by BC Ferries.
- Helped install Saanich's first road mural on Falaise Crescent and drafted the District's Road Mural Guidelines.
- Conducted research and advocacy on road safety, including vehicular noise pollution.
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.
As a life-long cyclist, transit user, pedestrian and a member of a car-free household, I am keenly aware of the importance of continuing to improve Saanich's active transportation network and of the existing safety risks for everyone in the district.
Improving access to active transportation for all Saanich residents has been a priority for me in my first term on council, was one of the reasons I initially became involved in local politics, and will continue to be a priority for me upon my re-election to council.
Walking
A- 10% of this topic WLK-01 A
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 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-02 B
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 short pathways that connect neighbourhoods, which vary widely in lighting, upkeep and accessibility, with specific examples of where they fail. Commits to reviewing the whole set with public input, which is a useful first step rather than a fix.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerLocal neighbourhood connectors are a type of short, multi-use pathways that provide more efficient pedestrian and often cycling/rolling access between destinations. However, they vary greatly in quality, accessibility and safety. Some examples include safety, lighting, and dumping issues on the path connecting Shelley Street and N. Dairy Rd. or accessibility concerns on the path between Stoba Ln. and Elliston Pl.
I commit to conducting a review of these connectors to make sure these pathways are working, safe, and accessible for everyone, and people have a chance to tell us about any issues they experience so we can address them. - 10% of this topic WLK-03 A
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 for a substantial increase in pedestrian infrastructure funding, above double current levels. A commitment to pay for the walking network, not only to plan it.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 5 options - 20% of this topic WLK-04 A
Do you support expanding pedestrian-priority and car-free streets in your municipality's downtown, main street or village centre?
Why this grade: Would pursue permanent pedestrian priority and car free streets rather than temporary closures. A firm yes.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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: Your responsiveness to the community (through holding office hours, sending out a monthly newsletter, and answering emails) is indicative of genuine interest in hearing from residents and bringing their concerns forward. Your commitment to funding safety improvements is what's necessary to actualize needed improvements. You have on-the-street experience with Saanich roads and sidewalks in all parts of the municipality.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerI support the ongoing safe routes to school program, which engages engineers, parents and District staff to make getting to school safer. I will also support existing traffic calming pilot projects that improve road safety through design, and advocate for that funding to the traffic calming strategy be made permanent.
I will continue to work with residents and local schools to explore, support, and fund innovative community-driven traffic calming measures like road murals.
I will also maintain my existing consultation with community members to stay informed about any issues that may arise: I hold weekly office hours, circulate a monthly newsletter, and proactively engage with residents through direct outreach, social media, and at community events. - 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: Your answer shows you have a real understanding of the pedestrian needs of older adults and those with disabilities (as well as of pedestrians of all ages). Your record of seeking input from residents and taking action on their concerns is evident to anyone who has met with you or has followed your voting record at Council. You know Saanich streets well. You are committed to funding Active Transportation improvements.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answerActive transportation infrastructure is critical for residents of all ages, and Statistics Canada has found that a quarter of Canadian seniors do not drive. These seniors still need ways to get around and stay connected to their communities.
To achieve this, we need to fully fund the Active Transportation and Road Safety Action Plans, which include targets for sidewalk and intersection improvements, as well as traffic calming measures. Sidewalks must be safe, well-maintained, and accessible to ensure that our municipal infrastructure serves all residents. Curb cuts must be well-designed and prioritize pedestrian safety over vehicular cornering speed.
I support updating the Saanich Parks and Recreation Older Adults Strategy, and ensuring that our pedestrian transportation infrastructure helps maintain Saanich as a Global Age-Friendly City.
Prior to my election, I fought for the creation of a dedicated Saanich accessibility advisory committee. This term, I had the honour of serving as the chair of the District's Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and as the Council Liaison to the new Accessibility Technical Administrative Committee. And I will continue to advocate for the inclusion of people with lived experience of accessibility challenges on all relevant Saanich advisory committees.
The importance of accessibility is central to how I approach transportation issues. This term, I worked with the Rick Hansen Foundation on accessibility advocacy in the built environment, and advanced resolutions to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) on improving accessibility in the building code, elevator policy, and amending the Motor Vehicle Act to permit use of wheelchairs and mobility scooters in bike and roll routes, which increases accessibility for users of mobility devices and increases the safety of sidewalks and pedestrian pathways. All of this advocacy work originated from conversations with Saanich residents, and will continue to advance similar issues when they are flagged by residents.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-02 —
Do you support creating a regional service that designs, builds and maintains local municipal infrastructure shared across Capital Region municipalities?
Why this grade: No position taken on the shared regional service. Uncertainty is read as neither support nor opposition, so the grade cell is left blank.
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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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").
Teale Phelps Bondaroff's answer1. Increase the tax base by supporting smart and strategic growth.
2. Promote proactive asset management by keeping up-to-date on infrastructure maintenance to avoid costly emergency repairs and replacements.
3. Adopt a benefits test for permissive tax exemption recipients to ensure that recipients of tax exemptions are providing a benefit to the community as a whole, not operating commercial enterprises, and complying with legal requirements. - 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 )
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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 representation on the bodies that govern transit across the Capital Region. The answer is 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
Teale Phelps Bondaroff 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.
Given increasing global economic instability, it has become even more important to act proactively to maintain municipal assets and infrastructure to avoid the costly and foreseeable consequences of delaying critical maintenance. We must continue to carry out Saanich's award-winning Asset Management Strategy and Implementation Plan in order to achieve this, and ensure we are buying Canadian whenever possible.
Youth are often excluded from governance conversations, even though they are the group that will be impacted by these decisions for the longest time. This term, I helped launch the Student Youth Council pilot project, in partnership with local high schools, to meet young people where they are and hear their priorities on their terms. I will work to make this a permanent advisory committee that has the same level of support from the District as our existing advisory committees. - 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.
The ÁTOL,NEUEL ("Respecting One Another") Memorandum of Understanding represents a commitment by the WSÁNEĆ Leadership Council Society's and the District of Saanich to develop a strong, committed and fair government-to-government relationship based on respect (ÁTOL), co-operation (ĆAINEUEL), and partnership (HIWESTEL). Working through the actions outlined in the MOU is critical to advancing reconciliation, these include Council to Council learning opportunities, protection of ancestral sites, and ecological restoration in District of Saanich Parks, among many others. I would also support exploring and developing similar MOUs with other local First Nations.
Saanich should continue to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and work to implement the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls to Justice, and regularly report on progress.
We must also maintain funding for Saanich and First Nations staff to facilitate consultation. I will also advocate for increased provincial and federal support for municipal consultation with First Nations, including improving guidance for municipalities on First Nations engagement and consultation, and improved capacity funding for municipalities and First Nations.
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