Election 2026 - Island Rail Corridor Champions

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"I have served on Victoria Council since 2022 and am a strong advocate for better transportation systems around the CRD and on the Island. As a young parent, I'm committed to building transportation systems that can help us reduce emissions, create more flexibility for residents, and build a long-term vision for the Island. I'm supportive of rapid bus, light rail, long-haul rail and sustainable options like bike lanes and mobility pathways. I would also like to ensure that transit planning is done alongside land-use planning, to ensure that we are adding housing supply near to key transit corridors. I'm proud to be running for re-election in 2026, as I've thoroughly enjoyed serving on council." 

"Fast, frequent, and reliable rail transit is an absolute necessity for Victoria, the CRD, and the island as a whole. All levels of government must be doing everything possible to get trains running again. The benefits to traffic, the climate, the economy, and so much more would be absolutely immense. If elected, I will do everything in the city's power to make this a reality."

"I’m fortunate to have served as a Victoria City Councillor, CRD Director, and Victoria Regional Transit Commissioner, and in all of those capacities I’ve been able to support the advancement of rail in this region. In the South Island, we truly have an historic opportunity to restore rail service, either on the E&N line, via the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative, or along Highway 1, as part of a new alignment to the West Shore planned by BC Transit. Right now, the E&N looks more promising, but I am committing to advancing both projects at this time. Service from Victoria to Langford would also hold out the future possibility of connecting to up-island rail service in the future. We should all be excited about the prospects of solving the Colwood crawl."

"Decisions we make today will shape air quality, affordability, and livability for decades to come. I’ve been working for decades for strong, multi-modal transportation systems that includes rail and other sustainable modes, including since 2022 as a Victoria City Councillor and CRD Director and on the Transportation Committee. I urge residents to think of the medium- and long-term future of this city, region and island. Do we want more traffic, or do we want more safe, convenient, clean and pleasant transportation options?"

"I strongly support the Restore Island Rail Society and its work to preserve and modernize the Island Rail Corridor. Once a rail corridor is compromised, it is extraordinarily difficult to restore. Vancouver Island needs a safe, sustainable and resilient transportation system that can move both passengers and freight, reduce highway congestion and emissions, and connect our communities. If elected to Victoria City Council, I will protect the corridor in municipal planning and work with First Nations and regional, provincial and federal partners toward the return of modern rail service."

 "All across the world, rail has demonstrated its immense value to communities over and over again. It’s time we caught back up. Restoring rail service would give us the opportunity to offer a reliable, convenient alternative for traffic in and out of CFB Esquimalt and the Dockyard, ease housing pressures, support our local economy, reduce emissions… the list of potential benefits is long.

It will take hard work and genuine collaboration with our regional partners to make this happen, and it will take hard work to address the just concerns of our First Nations neighbours and honour our commitment to reconciliation. I welcome all of this hard work, because it is work that is emphatically worth doing. As far as I’m concerned, the question here should not be “Should we?” but rather “How should we?”

“I have travelled extensively throughout the world to nearly 90 countries on six continents. Many of my journeys have been by rail as much of the world values the importance of railway transportation. Here, on Vancouver Island, however we have lost our vital connection to passenger and freight services by rail and we need to collectively work together to restore it before we lose it forever. In the Township of Esquimalt, we have a restored rail stop in place at the entrance to one of the island’s major employers, CFB Esquimalt and Seaspan Dockyard. Sadly, that stop has remained unused without the rail service that could greatly help reduce commuter traffic in and out of Esquimalt. Traffic congestion is just one of the many issues that restoring rail could help address along with providing more environmentally friendly transportation, economic development and tourism growth. The rest of the world greatly value their railway systems and we on Vancouver Island need to do the same.”

"Rail is very much a use-it-or-lose-it asset, and we are slowly losing it. Continued investment over time is likely to be much cheaper than trying to recreate the infrastructure after it is gone. This is particularly important for Esquimalt. The E&N corridor runs through our municipality and could provide an important alternative for people commuting to CFB Esquimalt and other major employers in the area. Making rail work will require cooperation between local governments, the CRD, BC Transit and First Nations along the corridor. First Nations need to be partners in those discussions, particularly given the history of railway decisions and the fact that the corridor bisects their communities and lands in many places."

"I strongly support restoring rail service across Vancouver Island, especially commuter service within our region! View Royal is the bridge between the Westshore and the rest of Greater Victoria, with thousands of commuters every single day who’ve been priced out of homes in Victoria, Oak Bay, and Saanich. Commuter rail service is one of the ways we can alleviate congestion, ease immediate housing pressure by expanding feasible commuting distances, reduce vehicle emissions, and make our region more livable for everyone!"

"I support restoring rail service on Vancouver Island and making it a clear priority. Having spent 40 years in Edmonton, I watched the importance and growing pains of having an LRT. We have a usable corridor, the hardest part is done.

I believe good zoning near stations and smart placement of bus connections will make rail much stronger and more useful. Combining rail, buses, and trails will move more people with less traffic and less energy than relying only on cars.

Transportation on the Island works best when we plan together across communities, not just one town at a time. I would make the section from Langford to Victoria a top priority.

I also support using different parts of the corridor in flexible ways — passenger trains where demand is high, freight or tourism trains in other sections, or even different uses at different times.

Finally, I understand the long-term financial and legal risks of removing the rail infrastructure. Taking out the tracks could cost hundreds of millions in cleanup and legal work, and those costs would fall on Island taxpayers. Keeping the rails open protects future options and avoids that big risk."

"I strongly support the restoration of rail service on Vancouver Island and believe the Island Rail Corridor is an irreplaceable transportation asset with remarkable long-term potential. We should preserve it, plan for it, and meaningfully work toward delivering rail service again.

Vancouver Island cannot rely solely on automobiles and highways. Our population is growing, and we need a range of transportation options that allow people and goods to move safely, efficiently, and sustainably.

As Mayor, I would bring a long-term and holistic perspective to transportation planning. Infrastructure decisions made today will shape how our communities grow for generations, and an integrated transportation system, with rail service, is essential to Saanich, the Capital Region, and the Island's shared affordability, livability, economic resilience, and climate goals."

 "I support the eventual restoration of rail service on Vancouver Island. We owe it to future generations to plan a transportation system that will meet their needs in a reliable, affordable, and sustainable way, with a range of transportation options. The corridor is an asset we should steward and protect until such time as rail service can be restored through collaboration between local governments and other levels of government."

  "I strongly support the restoration of rail service on Vancouver Island and believe the Island Rail Corridor is an important transportation asset that we need to preserve and plan for over the long term.

Our transportation system cannot be based entirely on automobiles and highways. Vancouver Island is growing, and we need a range of transportation options that can move people and goods safely and efficiently.

I also think we need to take the long view. Infrastructure decisions made today will affect transportation choices for generations. Preserving the rail corridor gives us an opportunity to develop rail when demand, technology and funding make different forms of service viable."

"Rail can be an incredibly important part of a complete, interconnected transportation system that gives people real options for getting around. This term, I worked to set up a Student Youth Council as a pilot project in the District. This amazing group of young people explored various issues and settled on transportation as a priority, with island rail as a central component. We heard a presentation from the good folks at the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative, and the students prepared a motion calling on Saanich Council to endorse, in principle, the Reconciliation Corridor Initiative. The motion also included advocacy components writing to higher levels of government. I was pleased to present this motion to Saanich Council this summer, and am very happy that it passed unanimously. I very much support continuing the conversation around bringing rail to Vancouver Island, a project that requires long-term vision and collaboration between many levels of local government. We already have this incredible asset in our region, and need to work together as a region to provide people with rail as a fantastic, convenient and sustainable transportation option."

 "Restoring island rail makes so much sense.  Rather than increasing and expanding highways, that simply induce more traffic buildup at a vast cost to the environment; we already have in place, rail passages that are sitting unused that can facilitate mass transportation without car traffic.  It makes no sense whatsoever, to not use these lines of transportation, which are already in place.
 

It is well overdue time for Vancouver island to enter the 21st century, through reutilizing these transportation ways that are sitting idle for no good reason and reinvigorating the communities that were built around the line historically."