There are a number of ways to share your opinions and ideas:
We welcome you to email Council. You can also mail or drop off a submission to 1903 Mt. Newton Cross Road, Saanichton BC, V8M 2A9.
Correspondence specifically addressed “to Mayor and Council” will be available to Council, and will be placed on a Council meeting agenda at the discretion of the Corporate Officer if the information is in the public interest or requests action/requires a decision of Council. If your correspondence is added to a Council meeting agenda, your name and address as stated on the written submission included and will be recorded in the permanent public Council minutes, which are published online (email addresses and phone numbers are redacted). If you do not want your name and address published, please advise us when submitting your correspondence.
If you wish to submit correspondence to Council for a particular meeting or public hearing, it must be submitted prior to 12:00 (noon), the Wednesday prior to the Regular Council Meeting. Correspondence can be submitted virtually by emailing municipal.hall@csaanich.ca or delivered via the front reception. If the correspondence is related to an item on the agenda, it will be accepted as a late item and added to the agenda if received prior to 12:00 (noon) the day of the meeting.
Note that Council Chambers is a workplace and a welcoming and safe environment for Council, staff, and anyone who wishes to participate in a Council meeting. The District has a zero tolerance policy for abusive behaviour, including but not limited to yelling, name calling, and intimidating.
If you wish to ask Council a question at the meeting, you may do so in person, near the start of the meeting. Speakers during the 'Public Questions' section must limit their questions to no more than two (2) minutes and must limit their questions related to matters in the Procedures Bylaw.
How to address Council:
- Provide your street name and municipality of residence.
- Limit your question to two minutes
- Address your questions through the Chair and not to individual Members of Council or staff
- The subject matter upon which a Delegation wishes to speak must be within the jurisdiction of Council and must not be related to:
- Bylaws on which a public hearing is scheduled to be or has been held (if it is scheduled, see Participating in Public Hearings)
- Matters subject to legal proceedings where a judgement has not been given
- Publicly tendered contractors or proposal calls that have not yet been awarded
- Staffing or labour relations matters
- Applications, permits or licenses not yet considered by Council
- Information considered in closed meetings unless the information has been released
- Promotion of business
Members of Council, through the Chair, may ask questions of the individual who is addressing Council, but must not enter into debate with any member of the public or any other Council Member.
Local governments restrict public comments at Regular Council Meetings to questions and set time limits to ensure meetings run efficiently and stay on schedule. These measures also promote fairness by allowing more people to speak and keep discussions focused on the agenda. This practice is governed by the District's Council Procedure Bylaw, which dictates these practices to balance public input with meeting management.
Note that Council Chambers is a workplace and a welcoming and safe environment for Council, staff, and anyone who wishes to participate in a Council meeting. The District has a zero tolerance policy for abusive behaviour, including but not limited to yelling, name calling, and intimidating.
To make a presentation on any matter within the jurisdiction of Council, please submit an Application to Appear as a Delegation (see Documents) to municipal.hall@csaanich.ca by noon at least ten days before the preferred meeting date. For additional information, refer to the Guidelines for Delegations (see Documents). (Two presentations are allowed per meeting – ten minutes each.)
Note that Council Chambers is a workplace and a welcoming and safe environment for Council, staff, and anyone who wishes to participate in a Council meeting. The District has a zero tolerance policy for abusive behaviour, including but not limited to yelling, name calling, and intimidating.
If you wish to speak at a Public Hearing, you can do so in person (or register to speak virtually by emailing municipal.hall@csaanich.ca or calling 250-652-4444 prior to noon on the day of the meeting).
If you wish to submit correspondence to Council for a particular meeting or public hearing, it must be submitted prior to 12:00 (noon), the Wednesday prior to the Regular Council Meeting. Correspondence can be submitted virtually by emailing municipal.hall@csaanich.ca or delivered via the front reception. If the correspondence is related to an item on the agenda, it will be accepted as a late item and added to the agenda if received prior to 12:00 (noon) the day of the meeting. If you do not want your name and address published, please advise us when submitting your correspondence.
From time to time public engagement opportunities are scheduled to receive feedback on specific projects. Input received is summarized for Council to help inform desionmaking. Current engagement projects are posted at LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca