Who will be elected to the next Victoria Council? Ask the Victoria Labour Council, but what’s its agenda?

For anyone running for elected office in Victoria there is a mountain to climb, and there   is even more of a challenge when you have the Victoria Labour Council (VLC) telling its members for whom to vote.

According to the VLC website it “is the local organization of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) at the city level. The VLC was founded over 100 years ago and is one of the oldest labour organizations in BC.

We organize local unions in our jurisdiction to carry out the national policies of the CLC; to participate in national action campaigns; to assist unions on strike; to organize political action; to develop international solidarity and to work for social justice in the community.”

The make up of the VLC includes the members of the following unions:

Health Sciences Association (HSA ),

Moveup 378 (formally the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union),

Public Service Alliance of Canada,

United Food & Commercial Workers Local 247,

Hospital Employees' Union,

BC Ferry & Marine Workers' Union,

Greater Victoria Teachers' Association.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 230,

Canadian Union of Public Employees

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 168

One can imagine that’s a lot of potential voters and closer to the October election the VLC releases a list of its preferred councillors and mayor. Add to this the NDP election machine and you can see the mountain to election is even more of a challenge for independent candidates.

In the 2022 election the VLC told its thousands of members to elect Marriane Alto for mayor and Krista Loughton, Matt Dell, Jeremy Caradona, and Susan Kim as its preferred candidates.  All were elected.

This election cycle. VLC began to vet candidates through a questionnaire, due by April 10 (long before many  potential candidates  have decided whether to run)  and then it follos up with interviews.

With its considerable influence, it is possible to glean some   of what issues are important to the labour organization through its questionnaire. This election year the VLC asks candidates the following:

1. What motivates you to seek election?

2. If you are a member of a union, have you applied for/received endorsement from your union?

3. Have you ever been a candidate in a previous civic, provincial, or federal election? If so, please give details.

4. Have you ever volunteered in an election campaign?

If so, please give details.

 5. Describe your volunteer work for community organizations or any local actions/campaigns and any position(s) you have held.

6. What do you see as the top five critical issues facing your community?

7. How would you make local government more inclusive, open, and responsive?

8, f elected, how will you communicate with community organizations such as the Victoria Labour Council during your term?

9. What is your position on Public Private Partnerships (P3’s)? contracting out, or privatizing public services? Would you support contracting in work?

10. What role should municipal government play in the Living Wage BC campaign in the community?

11. What steps would you take to ensure a Pay Equity policy is in place and that the policy is applied to all staff employed by the local government?

12. What ideas do you have for affordable housing? Do you support the objectives of the AffordableBC campaign?

13. What is your position on publicly owned liquor and cannabis stores?

14. What is your position on street sweeps, of unhoused members of our community?

15. Do you have a library card? How do you use your local library?

16. What can local governments do to attract and create green jobs and businesses in their community?

 17. What steps would you take to ensure your local government hiring practices reflect the community’s population diversity? Are you aware of any existing Employment Equity policies in your community or other communities?

18. How will you promote ethical purchases, including local unionized goods and services, where available?

19. What steps will you take to work towards action on Truth and Reconciliation?

20. What strategies or programs would you support to reduce reliance on police officers for mental health interventions in non-emergency situations?

21. What should be done to better integrate bike, public transit, and automobile networks with neighbouring communities?

22. If you were to pick three words to describe the labour movement generally, they would be:

I. __________________________because___________________________________ II.__________________________because___________________________________ III. _________________________because___________________________________

23. Are you prepared to work cooperatively with other pro-labour progressive political parties and candidates?

24. Other comments?

There are no questions about public safety, affordability, the economy, and property tax increases. Also, the critical issue of how our city should be developed through candidate opinions of the Official Community Plan. And there’s no mention of other important issues such as the municipal budget, policing and fire protection.  One could also argue, like some Victoria councillors, the VLC wades into areas far outside of the core scope of municipal governments.

Many community groups send out election surveys to candidates. so many in fact, it is difficult to respond.

It would be nice if the agenda of survey writers were transparent, publishing their issues along with justification for their positions. This offers voters an opportunity to understand reason for endorsements and see if the positions align with their own beliefs.

With such an extensive list of choices in municipal elections, it is work to figure out where you should cast your vote.

But, no matter what,  spoon-feeding voters, leaving them to make their own choices based on their own concerns is a far better idea.