Victoria: Grade D

Victoria receives a D. It remains the region’s housing and service centre and a leader in supply, but crime severity far above provincial benchmarks in every year, the weakest affordability relative to income of the six, and some councillor’s attention directed to matters outside municipal authority outweigh those contributions.

Strengths

Victoria deserves real credit on housing. It approved among the largest number of homes in the region over three years and led the region in approvals last year. It has the strongest apartment and multifamily mix of the six, a mid-range business tax multiplier, and spending growth closer to inflation than any of the region’s other larger municipalities.

Areas for improvement

Victoria was above the provincial average on both crime measures in every single year of the term, and by a significant margin – the only municipality of the six in that position. Both measures worsened over the term while the province’s improved. It also has the lowest household incomes of the six and the least affordable housing measured against those incomes. Council time was directed to matters outside municipal authority while residential rates rose sharply.

Core takeaway

The grade reflects the whole picture. Leading on housing wasn’t enough to offset what we found on safety, affordability and governance focus.