Council unanimously voted to urge province to reinstate funding for delayed UVic housing expansion
Photo by Declan Snowden.
On Monday, May 4, Saanich Council unanimously adopted a motion for Mayor Dean Murdock to write to the provincial government, requesting they reinstate funding for the “re-paced” student housing expansion, which would add 510 beds for upper-year undergraduates and graduate students.
The project, initially announced on Oct. 3, 2025, was originally expected to be completed in fall 2029. Following the delay, the project is now expected to be completed in 2034, marking a roughly five-year delay.
In a statement published on Feb. 17, Acting President and Vice-Chancellor at UVic, Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Dr. Robina Thomas said “The impacts of this decision will be felt by many on our campus, and because the project was set to begin construction in May, the university has already invested significant time and resources in it.”
At the May 4 meeting, council considered both the Development Variance Permit, to enable the construction for the housing development, as well as a motion to ask Murdock to write to the province and urge them to reinstate funding for the development.
The motion regarding the Development Variance Permit, moved by Councillor Colin Plant and seconded by Councillor Nathalie Chambers, passed unanimously. Plant thanked UVic, as well as student advocates for working with the District of Saanich, and said that supporting the permit was “the right way forward.”
Chambers expressed support for the motion as well, particularly as it will be on pavement and won’t require significant clear-cutting of trees. “People shouldn’t have to worry about housing when they’re going to school. They shouldn’t have to work like a dog,” she said.
Many other councillors also spoke positively about the motion at the meeting. Councillor Karen Harper said this was “going to be one of the easiest decisions all year.”
Murdock also spoke in favour of the motion and called the province’s delay “a disservice to the university as they look to attract a student population who would otherwise have found a residence [to] call theirs during their time of studies.”
Arising from that motion, Councillor Susan Brice moved to write to the province, through the mayor, urging them to return funding for the UVic housing expansion. This motion was seconded by Councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff and was also carried unanimously.
“We implore the Province to reinstate funding for new student housing at UVic,” said Brice in a press release from Phelps Bondaroff.
“The province’s decision to delay this project in the February budget and ‘replace some of its priorities,’ means students will continue to rely on already scarce rental housing in Saanich, leaving fewer options for other renters in our community.”
Although Brice moved this motion, Murdock clarified that Phelps Bondaroff had previously expressed his intention to move a similar motion, but was waiting until the variance permit was approved.
Phelps Bondaroff said the province’s choice to delay this project impacts both student housing and housing across the district. He said that it is “critical” Saanich stands up for the project as they “have an important role to play in advocating for residence in our community. [That] include[s] thousands of students at UVic who we should stand up for,” he said.
Tam Aljundi, UVSS director of campaigns and community relations, attended the meeting to advocate for the motion regarding the variance permit. Among him were other UVic students and community members, including Michael Caryk, former director of campaigns and community relations.
In a statement to the Martlet, Aljundi expressed the importance of forming connections with our elected officials and thanked the mayor and council for listening to student voices and using their role to “push for action.”
“I was very glad to see Saanich Council support UVic’s student housing expansion and call on the Province to reinstate funding…. Just last week, I spoke to students who live far from campus in the West Shore and commute over an hour each way to their classes while trying to manage rent, groceries, and tuition,” Aljundi said.
“This project will not solve the entire housing crisis, but adding 510 student housing units is an important step,” his statement continues. “Students should not be forced to choose between basic life essentials, long commutes, or unstable housing just to pursue their education. Affordable student housing is not a privilege; it is a necessity.”
