Major initiatives Councillor Loughton supported this term

  • Victoria 2050 — the vision for the future of the city
  • Beginning development on the new Crystal Pool & Wellness Centre
  • Adopting the Community Safety & Wellbeing Plan
  • Expanding the Bike and Roll network
  • Pushing Climate Action forward 
  • Investing in Hermann’s Jazz Club 
  • Transforming parks with upgrades at Topaz, Stadacona, and an expanded dock at Banfield (with a potential new dock in the Gorge, stay tuned!)
  • Supporting community events like the South Island Powwow, a B.C. Lions game, and Symphony SPLASH! — keeping Victoria vibrant, inclusive, connected, and fun!

 

Continuing the work in 2026 and beyond

Councillor Loughton’s focus aligns with the City’s 2026 budget survey results which showed that poverty and homelessness have overtaken housing and public safety as Victoria’s top issues, highlighting the urgent need for action to get people indoors and expand affordable housing. 

This is what she is working on currently:

  • Ongoing advocacy for additional indoor spaces to move unsheltered Victorians off the street.

  • Positive Flow to help people move out of supportive housing when financial barriers are the only obstacle. Rent supplements and transitional support allow those ready for the private rental market to move on, freeing units for people in shelters and creating space for those on the street—hence the term, Positive Flow. Across Victoria’s supportive housing sites, an estimated 100 people are in this situation, meaning several dozen unsheltered individuals could move inside, making the best use of supportive housing stock while reducing visible homelessness.
  • The Affordable Rental Housing Revitalization Tax Exemption program is the only way to add real affordability to new market rentals, with 10% of units renting at 30% of median income — about $1,400 instead of $2,100 for a new one-bedroom — in exchange for a 10-year tax holiday. I am reaching out to all builders to encourage participation in this program. To date, it has been used to make non-market projects more deeply affordable.

  • Pragmatic support for downtown businesses, recognizing that a thriving downtown benefits the entire region.

  • Researching and exploring options for a new central branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library