As an 18-year resident of Southern Vancouver Island, the husband of a frontline healthcare worker, and a parent of two young children, I experience the pressures facing Saanich families firsthand—rising costs, strained services, and growing concern about whether our systems are keeping up.
Hi! I'm Kevin.
Seeking a District of Saanich Council seat in October 2026.
I will represent Saanich residents with transparency, accountability, and respect. That means listening to you and seeking balanced answers.
- I support municipal amalgamation and regional cooperation where they deliver better outcomes, lower costs, and stronger resilience—and I’m skeptical where they don’t. That balanced, practical approach allows me to build trust across councils, staff teams, and partner agencies.
- I’m uniquely positioned to “get things done” with a rare combination of inside government experience and private-sector execution.
During my term, I will work collaboratively with the mayor, council, and District staff to advocate for the action-items Saanich needs to remain affordable, resilient, and well governed:
1.
Future proof our essential services through regional integration
This is important in the face of a regional crisis or natural disaster, municipal inequalities, and the faced-paced growth of our community.
ACTION PLAN: Start with a Regional Fire Services Plan as a proof of concept, especially given that high-rise developments are outpacing Saanich Fire Department’s ability to fight structure fires on their own:
- Align training, equipment specs & procurement, and standard operating procedures so crews and gear are interchangeable and costs drop
- Stop planning by borders—dispatch the closest, best resources across the Capital Region as a single risk area
- Run dispatch, communications, and data as shared regional infrastructure
- Expand automatic aid and shared specialty services so help is dispatched automatically, not negotiated in the middle of an incident
- Develop shared leadership, governance, and long-term planning to lock in integration
- Prove that regional services work as a mechanism for integrating additional services like police and garbage collection
2.
Stop the cycle of near-double-digit property tax hikes by holding senior governments accountable for offloading costs onto municipalities
CONTEXT: There is growing misalignment between municipal responsibilities and municipal revenue tools.
The Government of BC – which owns the bulk of levy and tax streams – is overburdening Saanich and other regional municipalities by dumping 10 pounds of service and infrastructure responsibilities in our 5-pound tax-base bag:
- BC Gov is downloading medical emergency costs to municipalities through our fire services
- BC Gov is downloading mental health crisis and underhoused support to municipalities through our police services
- BC Gov is downloading primary care to non-profits and municipalities that are forced to open clinics and recruit doctors
ACTION PLAN: Initiate a Regional Cost Attribution & Provincial Accountability Framework
- Work with neighbouring municipalities to quantify, agree on, and publicly report the real municipal costs of provincial service gaps
- Use that shared evidence to advocate collectively for funding or role clarity from the Province
If we work together with focus and a sense of urgency, we can get this done for Saanich families.
Guiding Principles
- Protect and advance the services Saanich residents want and rely on most
- Optimize district revenue through efficient service delivery and responsible taxation
- Seek opportunities to better collaborate with Victoria and the 11 other Capital Region municipalities, especially regarding core services
- Hold other levels of government accountable for their responsibilities to our community
- Transparent, good-faith and respectful decision making
My Perspective
As a member of Saanich District Council, I promise to be present with an objective, open mind that supports durable decisions mapped against what makes me – as a husband, dad, business owner, uncle, son, brother, friend, and neighbour – feel safe, happy, generous, and purposeful in our community.
Unique Qualifications
- 18-year Southern Vancouver Island resident
- Married 13 years to my amazing wife (frontline healthcare worker) and blessed with two great, elementary-school-aged kiddos
- Former journalist with Black Press and independent media
- 10 years as a public servant with the Government of British Columbia leading projects in international investment attraction, skilled trades training, public engagement and policy/service promotion
- 10 years as an independent business development, strategic communications, and government-relations consultant (learn more)
- “Amalgamation Friendly” with an objective view on municipal cooperation (learn more)
- Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
- Co-Founder of Scar-Free Scary Halloween
Primary Policy Focus
- Safety
“Continuing to keep Saanich safe means supporting our police and fire professionals by ensuring they have the tools, training, and regional partnerships needed to respond quickly and effectively.” - Affordability
“Affordability starts with respect for taxpayers—making smart spending decisions today while planning responsibly for tomorrow so families can live day-to-day and thrive without being overburdened.” - Housing
“A strong community offers homes for every stage of life by encouraging diverse, attainable housing options and cutting red tape so needed projects can move forward responsibly.”
- Transportation
“Safe, efficient transportation connects our community—by improving roads and sidewalks, managing traffic wisely, and investing in modern infrastructure that supports growth.” - Vibrancy
“Vibrancy comes from thoughtful development, thriving neighbourhoods, and a strong local economy that supports small businesses and the families who live here.”
Connect
If you believe in a Saanich where our community remains safe, affordability is supported through good governance, and smart partnerships with neighbouring municipalities helps our region thrive—let’s make it happen together.
Email me at kevin@votekevinwatt.ca to share your community ideas and concerns or just to connect.
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Quick Reads
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