Saanich: Grade C

Saanich earns a C. It records the region’s strongest public safety improvement and a solid housing contribution, but carries the heaviest business tax burden of the six and a spending trajectory that has outpaced both population growth and inflation.

Strengths

Saanich delivered the strongest public safety improvement in the region, with significant declines in both overall and violent crime severity over the four years. It approved a substantial number of homes across a diverse mix of detached, rental and apartment housing, and identified the largest quantified affordable housing commitment in the review.

Areas for improvement

Saanich carries the heaviest business tax burden of the six, with both the highest business rate and the highest multiplier in the region. Spending has grown well ahead of population growth. Saanich faced community tension around missing‑middle and infill housing, with many residents saying public engagement hasn’t made them feel heard.

Core takeaway

Real progress on safety. Real pressure on business taxes. That’s what the C reflects.