How to read this page. Each row below is one policy area, with Susan Belford'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 Susan Belford 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?
Right now Sooke funds its sidewalks only with frontage contributions from new developments. This doesn't include sidewalks in the developments themselves. This means that kids, parents with strollers or walkers with pets are endangered by speeding cars on twisting, hilly roads, or are forced into the street by parked cars. Sooke badly needs a new policies for sidewalk creation: a new funding mechanism, and stronger sidewalk requirements for developers. - 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.
Susan Belford's allocation of ten million dollars Housing $2,000,000 Transit $0 Walking Infrastructure $2,000,000 Rolling & Cycling Infrastructure $0 Roadway Infrastructure $0 Policing $2,000,000 Fire & Emergency Services $2,000,000 Parks & Recreation $0 Arts & Culture $0 Climate Action & Environment $1,000,000 Unhoused Resident Services $1,000,000 Community-Based Clinics $0 - Not graded GEN-GEN
If you have anything you'd like to communicate about your region, generally, feel free to share your thoughts here.
Sooke is a small town with a rural agricultural and resource-extraction history that still resonates as part of the Sooke identity. Since incorporation and the subsequent removal of big chunks of farmland from the ALR for development, the town has grown quickly, with an emphasis on housing. Developments haven't been wll connected to one another, so that many people have to travel to HWY 14 to get to other places in the town. The result is that transportation, water and sewer infrastructures are inadequate for continued growth-- many of Sooke homes are on sceptic, and wells. But the pressure to continue building is not letting up. For this reason we need to change our historical focus and rise to the challenge by building our local economy, promoting tourism, densifying and adding more local businesses to our downtown.
Healthcare access
What Susan Belford 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.
I declined the above question as it doesn’t fit for Sooke. We will soon see a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) on Wadams Way to provide same-day care for urgent, non-emergency health care centre. In 2025 The Ministry of Health committed $840,000, completed design drawings for the 6,500-square-foot UPCC space, and agreed to a sublease with Catalyst Community Developments.
Financing is currently being arranged and a development permit for the building is awaiting council’s approval. This project brings more than health care as it will also provide 80 rental homes, with 30% rented at 20% below market, including 14 homes reserved for health-care workers recruited to the centre. The Ministry of Health had already committed to hire all staff for the centre and fund its ongoing rent, maintenance and staffing costs.
Transit
C- 20% of this topic TRN-01 B
Which fare measures would you actively advocate for at the VRTC? Select all that apply.
Why this grade: Takes up free travel for under 19s, cheaper fares for seniors and cheaper fares for people on income or disability assistance from the measures on offer. Most of the list is endorsed, though one measure is passed over.
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.
Susan Belford chose 3 of 6 options (up to 4 allowed) - 30% of this topic TRN-02 C
Do you support removing general on-street parking (excluding accessible parking spaces) from frequent transit corridors and main arterial streets in your municipality, and reallocating that space to bus lanes, loading zones, and walking and cycling infrastructure?
Why this grade: Supports reallocating kerbside space on busy transit streets case by case, tied to whatever scheme happens to come forward. Deciding one scheme at a time sets no threshold that a future proposal would have to meet.
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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 6 options - 30% of this topic TRN-03 —
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: Sets aside the question of moving quickly on bus priority as one that does not arise here. Answered as not applicable rather than declined, so the row is left blank and drops out of the transit calculation. Note: Sooke is presently not home to, nor planned for, any FTN corridors, that said the Route 61 is a lifeline service for the community and it, along with all sooke traffic, is confined to Hwy 14. The 61 is a highly unreliable service and so an uncommited answer to this question is dissapointing, though for a lack of planned FTN status in the VRTP this question will be left ungraded.
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.
Susan Belford 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 standing up a regional transportation authority for the area. Nothing narrows or conditions the commitment.
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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 3 options - 10% of this topic TRN-05 F
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: Opposes new bus and bicycle links across parks, golf courses and public land whatever the time they would save. What is refused is the connection itself rather than any particular design for it, which puts it on the infrastructure side of the scale.
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.
Susan Belford 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.
These questions don’t fit Sooke well, so let me explain my answers:
Sooke’s existing plans will see a transportation structure privileging human-powered modes while improving existing vehicle infrastructure. At this time, Sooke’s main “transit corridor” is Hwy 14 (AKA Sooke Road) which is under Provincial jurisdiction. It has no on-street parking. On-street parking doesn’t contribute to traffic congestion here, so much as it creates dangerous situations for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter riders of all ages as they compete with fast moving vehicles along our many narrow, twisting roads. The fix here is not to ban on-street parking, but to build sidewalks. Yes, strong regional linkages are needed including between the CRD and the CVRD TRN -05 These are valuable land-uses in and of themselves. Don’t pave them- even for narrow pathways.
Housing
F- HFL-01 5 / 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
Susan Belford chose 5 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-02 3 / 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.
Susan Belford chose 3 of 10 options (up to 8 allowed) - HFL-03 4 / 6
Do you think your municipality should have target approval times for multifamily housing?
How this question is graded
6 points for 30/180 days, prorated for longer timelines. Housing delayed is housing denied. Long delays drive us costs for housing, increase the chance that they will be cancelled, and indicate a lack of clear published guidelines. A time limit on decisions prioritizes housing action and reforms.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-04 3 / 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.
Susan Belford chose 5 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.
Susan Belford 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.
Susan Belford 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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 5 options - HFL-08 1 / 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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 4 options - HFL-09 3 / 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.
Susan Belford chose 5 of 9 options (up to 7 allowed) - HFL-10 4 / 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.
Susan Belford's answerEnd of year one; A stakeholder's committee will receive formal support from Council.
A plan for eliminating homelessness in Sooke will be finalized. Incentives for high density infill development in the Sooke core and additional mixed used multi-family housing featuring market and non-market unites will be finalized.
End of year four; Successful advocacy with the province has seen funding for 80 supportive housing units and the District has completed development permit approvals for them. High density infill development and additional mixed used multi-family housing featuring market and non-market commercial spaces are in process of permitting and construction.
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: Backs both halves of the measure. Neither the municipal ban nor the transit advocacy is qualified.
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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 6 options Follow-up: Susan Belford 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 give climate a budget line and a leading place. It would not be the test the plan is run through.
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.
Susan Belford 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: A direct yes. The candidate accepts that the industry gets no private hearing.
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.
Susan Belford 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: Yes without conditions. Joining is treated as worth doing rather than worth doing cheaply.
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.
Susan Belford 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: Would vote for the prohibition. The tool is zoning and the candidate is prepared to use 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.
Susan Belford 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: Backs the entire list. Subsidised assessments, retrofit financing and guaranteed centre hours are all in.
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.
Susan Belford chose 5 of 7 options (up to 5 allowed) - 8% of this topic CLI-07 F
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: Would not phase the tools out. The noise and emissions continue with no measure proposed against them.
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.
Susan Belford 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: Opposes new data centres outright. Nothing is left to be worked out at the application stage.
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.
Susan Belford 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.
Susan Belford's answerWith our many watersheds and steep slopes, heat threatens our community in summer-- not only the threat of fire in the forested rural areas, which is frighteningly extreme-- but heat exhaustion in the more urban areas-- hot homes and public outdoor spaces resulting from heat islands, loss of urban tree canopy,
Winter sees the possibility of blow-down, flash flooding and landslide.
To support adaptation and resilience in Sooke, guidelines protecting new development from these environmental threats are contained in the OCP and must be rigorously followed and improved upon. I would also recommend that new builds use no-embodied-carbon, locally sourced building materials, electricity for heating and cooling, heat-pumps standard, and extra points for solar installation and rainwater harvesting readiness.
Sooke needs to promote retrofit programs for existing housing-- both informing residents about provincial and federal programs but also providing incentives to residents to embrace a retrofit for their own homes. With this, Sooke’s emergency preparedness infrastructure needs to grow as the community grows.
In terms of localized heat, Sooke can bring the forest back into the downtown area by plotting tree-lined sidewalks and pathways throughout the downtown area, to lower the temperature for pedestrians. - 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.
Susan Belford's answerIn Sooke we are fortunate to have many such features still in prominence, so it’s our job to preserve them going forward.
Beyond advocating for the preservation of large chunks of forest like Eagle Bluffs we need to learn what we have, before committing to further developments on the hillsides. We must conduct a proper survey of ecosystems and wildlife corridors in the area and commit to their protection, preservation and restoration.
We need to push against the “clearcut, blast, flatten and build” method of neighbourhood development currently popular on the Westshore. This method saw the headwaters of Ella stream buried under 30m of rock. Proponents argue the stream still runs to the sea from under the rubble. Others mourn the loss of a delicate ravine ecosystem and its dependents. - 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: Shows clear support for the idea and connects it to concrete actions relevant to 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.
Susan Belford's answerIt can be, if the developer commits to following best practices for siting, building materials, generous, vegetation rich set backs and no-carbon heating, cooling, and cooking systems. These best practices are already in Sooke’s OCP, but not as requirements and unfortunately, local builders in Sooke have taken a stand against these resilience-building measures. If elected, I will make a point of increasing the amount of information available to local builders and developers, and work with them to increase their uptake of such methods and systems. - 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.
Susan Belford 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.
Sooke's "all of organzization" climate focus is good, but needs a budget and staffing to keep climate ACTION on track.
Arts
B- 6.67% of this topic ART-01 2 / 3
Do you consider arts and culture to be a core part of your municipality's economic development strategy?
Why this score: Recognizes arts and culture and identifies partnerships and cultural-space needs, noting that current strategic municipal role remains limited. Is knowledgeable in current support mechanisms demonstrating understanding.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: These questions aren’t really relevant to Sooke. The only support the municipality gives to Sooke’s vibrant arts and cultural scene is in the form of grants in aid and service agreements- perhaps $30,000 in total. But Sooke has no dedicated cultural space and we would benefit from gallery and performance spaces. How to achieve this rests on building partnerships among the town’s artists, non-profits, and funding institutions. - 16.67% of this topic ART-02 3 / 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 a concrete first-year engagement/project action and a specific four-year outcome: a 'shovel-ready' :) Sooke arts centre planned, permitted and funded.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford's answerFirst Year: Enhance Sooke’s connection to the Westshore Arts Centre Project-- with a view to creating a local Sooke arts centre. Conduct an engagement to determine Sooke’s current and future needs for visual and performance arts from the perspectives of artists, performers and the audience.
Fourth Year: A shovel ready Sooke arts centre is planned, permitted and funded. - 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 a broad consequential municipal regulatory package. Provides meaningful implementation support but lacks the strongest combination of structural tools.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford 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: Supports multiple consequential permitting, zoning, event and coordination reforms.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford chose 6 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 substantive cultural-space expansion mechanisms, including regional CRD fuding of cultural infrastructure, development contributions, leveraging capital, partnerships, and CLT models.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford chose 5 of 16 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-06 2 / 3
Municipal budgets require difficult choices. Would you support maintaining arts and culture investment alongside other core municipal services?
Why this score: Supports arts investment but does not provide the clearest commitment to maintaining/growing it alongside core services. Remains dependent on sourcing new revenue.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford chose 1 of 5 options - 10.00% of this topic ART-07 3 / 3
When a major development project affects an existing cultural space, what should your municipality prioritize?
Why this score: Supports preservation/replacement or equivalent cultural benefit.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford chose 1 of 5 options - 16.67% of this topic ART-08 2 / 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 municipal tax incentives, new and the creation of a new one for property owners, paired with reduction of fees, providing a moderate municipal expansion of inventory.
How this question is graded
Susan Belford 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.
The argument can be made that Sooke's tourism will increase if we have performance and gallery space to showcase our many accomplished artists, actors, singers and musicians. So it makes sense that the municipality should consider how it can provide support. Maybe an arts centre can be combined with the long desired intergenerational Gathering Place already planned for Lot A in the core. District coffers could not currently support such an initiative without considerable funding, however.
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 linking the Ponds Park corridor to the town centre and explains it would make riding and driving safer and bring more people into town to shop, visit and reach transit. A named link with the benefit spelled out.
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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 4 optionsFollow-up: Making linkage between Ponds Park Corridor and the town centre would increase safety for both cylists and drivers, and increase the numbers of people biking into town to shop, visit friends or connect with transit. - 15% of this topic ROL-02 A
Will you commit (or continue to commit) to physical protection (not paint alone) as the standard for all new and upgraded cycling infrastructure on busy streets in your municipality?
Why this grade: Sets physical protection as the standard for new and upgraded cycling routes on busy streets, with nothing held back. A full 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.
Susan Belford 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: Commits to opposing efforts to remove, narrow or weaken existing protected lanes and all ages and abilities routes. Given without condition.
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.
Susan Belford 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: Adds complete street work on Grant Road and Otter Point Road and a sidewalk on one side of Sooke River Road, and argues a new funding model is needed so sidewalks and bike lanes get built quickly enough to keep people safe. Named roads, plus the reason the current approach is too slow.
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.
Susan Belford's answerIn addition to the Ponds Park corridor mentioned above, I will focus on finding improved funding sources for the construction of bike lanes and sidewalks generally, and move forward "complete street" projects for Grant and Otter Point roads and creation of sidewalk on one side for Sooke River Road.
A new funding model is needed to ensure that sidewalks and bikelanes are built quickly to keep citizens safe. The modifications to the roads mentioned above will increase safety on three of Sooke's major roads. Its a start. - 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: Has repeatedly pressed at council meetings and elsewhere for the district's transportation plan to be implemented in full. Focused and persistent advocacy, set out in a single line with no results claimed.
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.
Susan Belford's answerI have repeatedly advocated for the complete implementation of Sooke's excellent Transportation Master Plan at council meetings and elsewhere.
Walking
A- 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: Modest support for multimodal planning and 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.
Susan Belford 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 combination that makes walking unsafe locally: no sidewalks on narrow twisting streets, parking along them and speeding. Commits in the first term to a named corridor connection, to funding a complete street on a named road, and to finding a new funding mechanism for future sidewalks.
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.
Susan Belford's answerIn Sooke the main problem is lack of sidewalks on narrow twisting streets in combination with on-street parking and/or speeding. In my first term I will commit to improving the cycling connection from Ponds Park Corridor to downtown, ensure funding for the complete streeting of Grant Road and finding a new funding mechanism for future sidewalk development. - 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 raise pedestrian infrastructure spending past twice its current level. The strongest available 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.
Susan Belford 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: A yes to permanent expansion. The commitment is to a lasting change in how the centre works.
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.
Susan Belford 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 note that most Sooke schools sit on the provincial highway and that pick up and drop off is a major source of congestion, and you would engage parents, youth, the school district and staff to develop safe routes to school, extend walking school buses, examine neighbourhood connectivity and work out what school bus routes need to change. Bringing young people into that conversation alongside parents and staff broadens the evidence in a way this question rewards.
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.
Susan Belford's answerThis is especially relevant to Sooke as most of our schools are on Highway 14, and so pick up and drop off time is a major source of traffic congestion. I will engage with parents, youth, the School district and staff to explore pedestrian "safe routes to school", further develop walking school buses, explore neighbourhood connectivity and analyse what changes are needed for school bus routes. - 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: You would install long duration crossing lights on both sides of the roundabout on the provincial highway, complete the street through the core for people using walkers, canes and mobility scooters, and bring every bus stop up to a boardable standard, giving the first two years to advocacy, assessment and costing and the last two to construction, with the same phasing applied to sidewalk funding. Setting out which half of the term assesses and which half builds is the clearest timeline offered on this question.
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.
Susan Belford's answerIn down-town Sooke proper long-duration crossing lights need to be installed on HWY 14 on both sides of the round-about. This, as well as the complete streeting of HWY 14 through the core will substantially improve mobility for people using walkers, canes and mobility scooters. In addition, all but-stops need to be brought up to standard so mobility impaired people can board the bus.
All of these depend on the cooperation of the provincial government because HWY 14 is provincial jurisdiction. So in the first two years, my focus will be on advocacy and assessment of exactly what is needed and costs. In the second two years, I hope to be able to see implementation of the work outlined above. This timeline works for the much mentioned lack of sidewalks as well-- First two years assess, research and implement alternative funding models for sidewalks-- last two years, start building them.
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.
Many people I have spoken to are afraid to walk or cycle in Sooke due to safety concerns.
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.
Susan Belford 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 support creating it. The commitment is given in full rather than in principle.
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.
Susan Belford chose 1 of 5 options - 17% of this topic GOV-03 A
If elected, what three steps would you take to put your region or municipality on a firmer financial footing?
How this question is graded
“Real financial resilience comes from increasing the productivity of land that's already served by infrastructure: letting neighborhoods incrementally thicken, encouraging redevelopment where roads and pipes already exist, building more value per acre instead of more acres that need public maintenance.” The Strong Towns approach thinks about revenue vs liabilities and the cost of replacing infrastructure as a key driver of municipal financial success. Next-increment intensification or better allows improved use of pipes, roads, and wires, increasing the economic base for the city while lowering vacancies (examples, strongtowns.org , archive.strongtowns.org ). No credit was given for/against for either a) sharing costs with neighbouring governments or b) asking for money from higher levels of government, both of which may have additional merit beyond the boundaries of the muncipality. A-level (excellent) answer: 1. a comment about density being linked to financial wellbeing (revenue side), 2. a comment about efficient use of that revenue (expenses side), 3. thinking about infrastructure liabilities and how to pay for them given the intergenerational problems. B-level (good) answer considers some of these principles, but likely doesn't consider both revenue and expenses. C-level (mixed) - may have other ideas about arbitrary efficiencies and doesn't provide a mechanism for doing the work they propose (e.g. "fill up the reserve fund" -- with what money?). F - working in the opposite direction of resilience (e.g. arbitrary property tax increase caps), or doesn't answer the question (e.g. "my municipality is on firm financial footing").
Susan Belford's answer1. Harness revenue from MRDT to enhance Sooke's tourism potential
2. Focus development in the core of low-rise mixed use multi family buildings with affordable commercial on the ground floor, thus decreasing infrastructure costs, increasing tax revenue, supporting local business and creating a vibrant, walkable downtown Sooke. This in turn will generate more tourism,and raise money for Sooke.
3. Showcase sooke's employment lands and attract light well paying industry - 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 )
Susan Belford 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: A yes. Local First Nations would help govern transit rather than be consulted about it.
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.
Susan Belford 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:
Why this grade: Strong 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.
Susan Belford 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.
Governance also involves the meaningful involvement of the public in making decisions. I'd like to explore the use of the community assemby model for major decisions, and the creation of an advisory committee of neighbourhood representatives, to keep Council alert to challenges of Sooke's very different neighbourhoods. - 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 T'Sou-ke people are not allowed to vote in Sooke municipal elections, while they are surrounded by the town, and deeply impacted by it's actions. This needs to change. I'd like to see Sooke follow the lead of Nanaimo, making it possible for T'Sou-ke folks to have a say in Sooke policies. I'd also like Sooke committing to more long term changes recommended by T'Sou-ke to improve the health of the Sooke Basin.
Livable CRD is a registered local elections advertising sponsor with Elections BC. Election advertising on this site is authorized by Livable CRD, [email protected]. Elections BC explains what that means in its Guide for Local Elections Third Party Sponsors in B.C. (PDF).