The second forum for the up-coming municipal byelection held Thursday night at a local church could have easily turned into a case of deja vu all over again. Thankfully, it had a different dynamic.

Sharing the stage at the Church of the Nazarene, Nathalie Chambers, Keith Davidoff, Michael Geoghegan, Karen Harper, Marsha Henderson, Rebecca Mersereau, Shawn Newby, Art Pollard, Ned Taylor and Robert Wickson answered familiar questions about affordable housing, fiscal accountability, amalgamtion, regional transportation, food security, and the eventual fate of the Environmental Development Permit Area (EDPA) bylaw among other issues.

They had debated exactly 48 hours earlier during the St. AidanB次元官网网址檚 United Church and ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 forum differed by degrees, not in kind. Many of the questions had a familiar ring, as did the candidatesB次元官网网址� answers.

But the evening had nonetheless a different feel as at least four members of the current council B次元官网网址� Coun. Susan Brice, Coun. Fred Haynes, Coun. Colin Plant and Coun. Leif Wergeland B次元官网网址� watched from among the 300 people, who filled the church pews for the debate that candidates themselves had organized following an initiative by .

Whether intentional or not, several candidates upped their criticism of the current council compared to TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 debate. Some used humour, others bluster.

B次元官网网址淚t is said politicians and diapers should be changed regularly for the same reasons,B次元官网网址� said Henderson during her closing remarks.

Geoghegan meanwhile opted for the latter. B次元官网网址淢y election will send very strong signal to both Saanich and the [Capital Regional District] that you voters have had enough,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou have had enough of the tax increases, you have had enough of the incompetence, you have had enough of the corruption.B次元官网网址�

He was especially critical of news that then rehired him for two years, with an annual salary of more than $220,000. B次元官网网址淲e have the equivalent of a million dollar pay out to our police chief B次元官网网址� $379,000 severance after he retires and the next two years, $221,000 [per] year,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淣ice gig.B次元官网网址�

Karen Harper B次元官网网址� who like Geoghegan is running on a platform of fiscal accountability and rescinding the EDPA B次元官网网址� tried a more somber approach when she said councillors spend too much arguing with each other.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, in Saanich, if you go to a council meeting, there [are] often a lot of people there, and it is usually not a fun time, because there is a lot conflict going on,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淔rom my perspective, the one thing that could be done to reduce the conflict in Saanich and to allow council start spending its time on more important issues like getting the budget under the control and starting with local area plans is rescind the EDPA and start from scratch.B次元官网网址�

Others sounded less dogmatic concerning the EDPA, but nonetheless cited its implementation as an illustrative example of how council has failed to consult with the public. B次元官网网址淚 think the EDPA has its purpose, but it has its issues, and it has some serious issues,B次元官网网址� said Taylor, lamenting the lack of accurate maps. B次元官网网址淏ut what is even worse is the implementation of the EDPA. It was done without adequate consultation.B次元官网网址�

Several candidates meanwhile lamented SaanichB次元官网网址檚 perceived slowness concerning new developments. Newby promised to work with developers, while easing regulations. B次元官网网址淚 will do what I can to make Saanich more efficient,B次元官网网址� he said.

Perhaps the line of the evening went to Mersereau. Describing herself as a B次元官网网址減olicy geek,B次元官网网址� she promised an open, more collaborative approach towards governance that would see her hold regular townhall meetings. B次元官网网址淚t is no secret that Saanich council, Saanich more broadly as a municipality has been in the limelight a lot in the last few years. Fortunately, we have Nanaimo to take the heat more recently,B次元官网网址� she said, drawing laughter. B次元官网网址淏ut nonetheless, it has really our municipalityB次元官网网址檚 credibility and that urgently needs to be addressed.B次元官网网址�