Author Archives: Ben

Thanks to members of our community who attended the May 9th public forum on “Selling City-Owned Land.” Your views and commitment to the City can help shape a stronger Land Policy to guide current and future decisions by City Council. As several speakers suggested, strengthening City of Victoria policy and procedures can provide an example … Continue reading »

Should the City of Victoria sell four parcels of City-owned land on the western side of Victoria Harbour to the Ralmax group of companies? While I support our working harbour and family-supporting jobs provided at the Point Hope Shipyard, I think the question of land ownership needs to be given serious consideration. The site, on … Continue reading »

Here is the text of the speech I gave at Victoria’s Day of Mourning ceremony for workers killed or injured on the job, held on April 28, 2012 and organized by the Victoria Labour Council and Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 50: DAY OF MOURNING SPEECH VICTORIA, BC April 28, 2012 As an … Continue reading »

Spring time is here. I hope you are taking time to enjoy the warmer, drier weather and explore the natural areas and cultural activities in our city and region. We are emerging from a busy time at Victoria City Hall and the CRD, marked by annual budgeting and cyclical priority setting. While working to contain … Continue reading »

Watch Youtube video This 8mm film footage shows Vancouver Island’s Esquimalt & Nanaimo railroad in the 1950s, shortly after the introduction of diesel. As we consider the future of rail on the island in the 21st century, I urge my fellow Victoria City Councillors to exercise foresight and plan for the future — by ensuring that … Continue reading »

It has been one hundred days since I took my oath of office and assumed my seat at Victoria City Council and the Capital Regional District Board. Here are some issues I have been working on since my last update: Successfully convinced City Council to retain backyard collection of solid waste, while moving toward a kitchen scraps … Continue reading »

Watch Youtube video     Mass Rally at the Legislature to Support BC’s Teachers   Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 Time: 11:00 am gather at Centennial Square, Victoria BC 12:00 pm Rally at the BC Legislature More info Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Victoria, BC – City councillor and CRD director Ben Isitt is challenging Victoria and Saanich councillors, residents, and the region’s construction community to “think big and dream big” in developing a Master Plan for the area of under-utilized land straddling the two municipalities, which he describes as “Midtown.” Isitt will urge joint action on a … Continue reading »

I want to share my views on a delicate subject: secrecy at City Hall and the need for much greater community consultation and openness. While my views may ruffle some feathers, I think we need to begin a serious discussion on how the city operates. After sitting at the council table for six weeks, I … Continue reading »

Since assuming my seat as City Councillor and Regional Director last month, I have taken a number of steps to familiarize myself with the operations of the City and CRD, while beginning to move forward on my platform. It has been a sharp learning curve! Highlights include: Meeting with Gonzales residents and city workers to discuss … Continue reading »

Greenway Photo Album – IPhone/IPad/Non-Flash Version After making careful and detailed inquiries regarding the proposed Gonzales-Chandler pathway, I support the city moving forward with residents to reopen this city-owned corridor in 2012. There are many examples of successful pathways, both in Victoria as well as in adjacent municipalities. Council agreed to re-open the path in … Continue reading »

On December 21, 2011, I helped commemorate a forgotten mutiny of French-Canadian soldiers that occurred 93 years ago at the corner of Fort and Quadra streets in downtown Victoria, as the 259th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (Siberia) embarked for the port of Vladivostok and service in the Russian Civil War. I first discovered … Continue reading »

Here is my position with regards to the Northern Junk proposal for city lands and private lands at the foot of Johnson Street: The previous council erred in providing the opportunity to a single developer to envision possibilities for this prime downtown real estate; In light of the Johnson Street Bridge project, the first step … Continue reading »

Listen to this CFAX 1070 interview from December 12th, 2011, where I discuss public office, regional services and the oath to the Queen: Link to CFAX 1070 Interview, December 12, 2011 Download Podcast Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Letter to the Editor of the Victoria News, 10 December 2011 A letter writer suggests that rail service along the Esquimalt and Nanaimo (E&N) corridor “doesn’t seem to fit Via Rail’s mandate” (“E&N track is dead thanks to inaction,” Dec. 9). But what then is Via Rail’s mandate? Is it to focus exclusively on inter-city rail service in vote-rich Ontario and an over-priced, … Continue reading »