Blog
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Would the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights Improve Municipal Urban Forest Governance?
On July 20, 2026, Saanich Councillor Nathalie Chambers brought forward a motion asking Council to consider the Universal Declaration of Tree Rights as a framework for informing the District’s Tree Protection Bylaw, Urban Forest Strategy and broader municipal planning. The motion was defeated 8–1 following a lengthy discussion about municipal authority, legal implications and implementation. Questions from the debate Would the Universal… Read more
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Dear Councillor Jeremy Caradonna: Facts Matter – Victoria’s Urban Forest
In a Facebook post on July 21, 2026, Victoria City Councillor Jeremy Caradonna highlighted the City’s climate accomplishments, including the expansion of the urban forest. Unfortunately, his summary does not accurately reflect the City’s own technical report. Councillor Caradonna wrote that Victoria’s canopy increased from 26% to 30% since 2020 (monitoring to 2023). According to Terra Remote Sensing’s… Read more
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Could Saanich Become Canada’s Next Municipality to Recognize the Rights of Trees?
By Squirrel For Mayor 🐿 Squirrel For Mayor will be watching with interest to see how the Saanich Mayor and Council respond to this council member’s motion. On Monday, July 20, 2026, Saanich Council will debate a motion from Councillor Nathalie Chambers that would endorse the principles of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Tree as part… Read more
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Urban Forest Myths: Debunking the Debunkers
Summary: This article reviews common claims about urban trees and compares them with current urban forestry research. Topics include replacement planting, mature tree value, biodiversity, and the ecological role of urban forests in climate resilience. By 🐿️ Squirrel for Mayor What does the urban forest have to do with housing myths? That is a fair… Read more
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903 Admirals Road: Bill 16, Green Infrastructure, and a Potential Shift in Esquimalt Policy
By 🐿 Squirrel for Mayor The proposed development at 903 Admirals Road has become a test case for how municipalities can use new powers under British Columbia’s housing legislation to require stronger environmental performance from development projects. At the centre of the discussion is Bill 16 (Housing Statutes Amendment Act, 2024), which expanded municipal authority under… Read more
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Garry Oak Ecosystem: What the Songhees Nation Is Asking Us to See with the Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP)
The Quadra McKenzie Plan (QMP) in Saanich is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. The plan proposes significant growth over the next 20 years, concentrating housing and mixed-use development along the Quadra-McKenzie corridor and key transit routes. Its ambitious growth targets are largely driven by provincial housing mandates, illustrating how provincial… Read more
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Save Brighton Greenway: A Community Defending Place
Learn more and sign the petition: https://savebrightongreenway.com One of the most encouraging stories unfolding in Greater Victoria is not about a politician, developer, or government program. It is about ordinary residents who decided that the places they love are worth speaking up for. The Save Brighton Greenway movement emerged in response to a proposed 24-unit… Read more
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Bill 16: An Untapped Opportunity for Victoria’s Urban Forest
Much of the public discussion about housing legislation has focused on what municipalities can no longer do. Bills 44, 46, and 47 reduced local control over density and removed public hearings for many residential developments. As a result, communities across British Columbia have struggled with how to protect urban forests while accommodating growth. Yet another… Read more
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Even Supporters of Housing Reform Are Calling for a Review of Bill 44
By Squirrel For Mayor 🐿 One of the most persistent myths surrounding criticism of Bill 44 is that it comes only from people who oppose new housing. That simply isn’t true. In a June 1, 2026 letter to Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Christine Boyle, the Cadboro Bay Residents Association (CBRA) made something very clear:… Read more
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Saanich Is Rethinking How Tree Protection Is Measured: From Tree Counts to Canopy Cover
Article by Squirrel for Mayor 🐿 Saanich is proposing one of the most significant changes to urban tree protection in decades. Instead of requiring developers to replace removed trees at ratios such as 2:1 or 3:1, the proposed Tree Protection Bylaw would require developments to achieve minimum tree canopy targets. Existing trees would have their canopy… Read more