Frequently Asked Questions
Folks are curious about a number of issues in this election. Learn why Doug is still the right choice for Colwood’s future.
Got a question for Doug?
How do Colwood's property taxes compare with the rest of the Capital Regional District during your time as mayor?
Colwood has worked hard to keep municipal property tax increases responsible while still investing in the services and infrastructure a growing community needs. We have delivered the lowest average property tax increases in the CRD at 5.86% over the period 2023-2026. Here’s how it breaks down:
2023
In 2023, municipalities across the CRD faced significant post-pandemic inflation, rising construction costs, and the financial pressures of newly elected councils establishing their four-year priorities. In Colwood, Council approved a 6.43% municipal residential property tax increase, keeping the increase below the roughly 7% inflation rate at the time. The final budget reflected efforts to manage cost pressures while maintaining core services and applying a fair tax distribution across property classes.
2024
In 2024, Colwood approved a municipal tax increase of 4.9%. That kept our historical annual average below 5% and helped maintain Colwood’s position as one of the lower-taxed growing municipalities in the Capital Regional District.
2025
Driven largely by rising West Shore RCMP policing costs, 2025 saw Colwood’s highest tax increase of this council term at 7.9%, or about $181 for an average home assessed at $1.039 million. Safe routes to school improvements and infrastructure replacement needs also factored into the tax increase for the year, but even with that increase, Colwood remained below or comparable to many other municipalities facing significant tax pressures across the region.
2026
In 2026, Colwood took a disciplined approach to reducing the projected tax increase. While the initial forecast was 7.54%, Council implemented a recruitment freeze and reduced non-essential operating costs. The final municipal tax increase was brought down to 4.22%.
That made Colwood the lowest reported property tax increase among voting municipalities in the CRD for 2026 — well below communities such as Esquimalt at 11.3%, Sooke at 10.5%, and Victoria at 9.34%.
Important context
The municipal portion of Colwood property taxes represents only about half of a resident’s total tax bill. The remaining amount is made up of levies collected on behalf of other authorities, including the Province of British Columbia for education, the Capital Regional District, BC Transit, and regional hospital services.Those charges appear on the same tax notice, but they are not controlled by the City of Colwood.
Does the City of Colwood have a “transparency problem” with code of conduct investigations, as your challenger has suggested?
No. Colwood has taken a more professional and accountable approach to code of conduct matters.
Over the past four years, there have been occasions when Council has had to address conduct concerns involving elected officials. These have included public statements that created confusion or concern, as well as issues related to the proper chain of communication between elected officials and municipal staff.
Rather than ignoring these matters or handling them informally, Colwood engaged an independent fairness adviser to review code of conduct concerns when necessary. That ensures complaints are handled professionally, consistently, and at arm’s length.
There are also appropriate limits to what can be made public. Code of conduct matters can involve personnel issues, legal advice, privacy obligations, and confidential municipal processes. Transparency is important, but so is fairness, due process, and protecting the integrity of the investigation.
The goal has never been to create conflict. The goal is to maintain a respectful, professional, and effective Council that serves residents well.
What about the West Shore passenger ferry idea raised again by one of your challengers?
Colwood Council voted in late 2025 to remove references to a potential passenger ferry connection from the Colwood Waterfront Stewardship Plan. The concept would have connected Colwood, likely through Royal Bay or The Beachlands, with CFB Esquimalt and downtown Victoria.
While a previous BC Ferries pre-feasibility study suggested the service could attract roughly 3,100 daily passengers in its first year, it also projected that the ferry would require substantial annual operating subsidies — estimated at more than $8 million per year. Those costs would ultimately compete with other important community priorities.
There were also serious environmental and land-use concerns. After declaring a climate emergency in 2019, it did not make sense to pursue a concept that could require significant shoreline paving and large parking areas near a sensitive waterfront and a federally protected migratory bird sanctuary.
Instead, Council chose to focus on delivering the Colwood Waterfront Multi-Use Pathway — a practical, achievable project supported by a $6 million federal grant and tied to a 2028 completion deadline. That project improves public access to the waterfront while respecting the long-term sustainability of Royal Bay and The Beachlands.
Transportation remains a major issue for the West Shore, but it requires a coordinated regional response. That means improving existing transit and road networks, supporting more local employment, and continuing to explore realistic long-term solutions, including renewed conversations about commuter rail.
Those discussions are ongoing, and I believe there is a real opportunity to move them forward with a more engaged federal government.
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce recently released its inaugural municipal report cards, which they say provides a data-driven assessment of how local municipalities, including Colwood, have performed on issues that influence housing affordability, economic growth, public safety, and long-term regional prosperity. Colwood ranked high, along with Oak Bay, netting a B grade. Does this report card paint an accurate picture of Colwood?
No, to evaluate Colwood’s progress using simplified metrics misses the full picture of what is happening on the ground.
First, regarding safety: Colwood remains one of the safest, most vibrant communities in the Capital Region. The Crime Severity Index is a complex metric influenced heavily by regional trends and, ironically, by more proactive local policing when officers are actively on the beat solving cases and encouraging reporting, recorded statistics temporarily rise. Council continues to invest heavily in public safety to ensure our neighborhoods remain secure.
Second, regarding municipal spending: increases in our operating budget have not been spent on expanding bureaucracy - they have gone directly into tangible assets for our residents. When faced with a regional healthcare crisis, Colwood stepped up and funded a city-supported medical clinic that has already connected thousands of residents with a family doctor.
We have also invested in long-overdue upgrades to emergency cooling infrastructure, modern arts facilities, and safer roads and trails.
Crucially, we have made these generational investments while maintaining the lowest average municipal property taxes in the Capital Region at 5.86% over 2023 - 2026. That isn't reckless spending; it is practical, disciplined leadership delivering high-value returns for every taxpayer dollar.