Ten questions for every candidate

Do you believe that every child in Greater Victoria should have an opportunity to learn to swim through an affordable public facility?

What role, if any, should municipal governments play in making that possible?

Public pools serve many purposes: swimming lessons, water-safety education, recreation, competitive sport, rehabilitation, fitness, social connection, and a safe place to escape a heat dome.

Do you consider public pools and recreation centres to be part of a community's health and safety infrastructure? Why or why not? How should that perspective influence municipal budget, land use and capital planning decisions?

Would you support publicly tracking unmet demand for aquatic services across the CRD — program waitlists, how quickly programs fill, cancelled programs, and people unable to register because programs are full?

Would you also support collecting information about cross-municipal use of aquatic facilities? How should that information be used in operating, budget and capital-planning decisions?

Residents frequently cross municipal boundaries to use recreation facilities, while the costs are generally borne by individual municipalities or sub-regional services.

Would you support greater regional planning for aquatic facilities and programs? Would you support exploring a new regional public pool in Saanich using a model similar to Panorama Recreation, which operates as a CRD service overseen by the Peninsula Recreation Commission? Why or why not?

Would you support Saanich beginning formal planning or a feasibility study for additional public aquatic capacity, including the possibility of a new pool or recreation centre?

If a need for additional capacity is demonstrated, would you be open to supporting construction of a new facility? Why or why not?

Crystal Pool is expected to be closed for approximately five years while its replacement is constructed. Interim facilities will replace some, but not all, of the lost capacity.

What specific actions would you support to maintain or increase public aquatic access during this period?

UVic has identified the potential for a future aquatic facility associated with CARSA, possibly in partnership with municipalities, the CRD, the Province, or other organizations.

Would you support formal discussions among UVic, local municipalities, the CRD, the Province and aquatic user groups to explore whether a partnership at CARSA could help meet regional aquatic needs? Why or why not?

One proposal that has been discussed is whether McKinnon Pool could be temporarily reopened while the region faces reduced aquatic capacity. Doing so would require operating investment figure unverified.

Would you support examining whether a short-term reopening or partnership involving McKinnon Pool is financially and operationally realistic? If so, what conditions would need to be met before you would support public funding?

Some advocates have argued that outdoor pools should be considered part of a region's long-term recreation and community infrastructure rather than simply seasonal amenities.

What is your perspective on the role, if any, that outdoor pools could play in addressing Greater Victoria's future aquatic needs?

If elected or re-elected, what ideas would you bring forward to improve access to swimming, water-safety education, and aquatic facilities in the Capital Region?

Are there solutions or approaches not mentioned in this questionnaire that you believe the region should consider?