Longtime resident frames bid around finances and collaborative leadership
After a lifetime in Saanich, including a degree from the University of Victoria in economics and political science, Lorne DeLarge says he is putting his name forward for municipal council with a platform built on fiscal restraint and a different approach to local decision-making.
DeLarge told voters he decided to enter the race because he believes Saanich has been moving in the wrong direction during the past four years. Running under the banner of Save Our Saanich, he said he wants to bring what he describes as disciplined, collaborative leadership to council.
“Over the last four years I’ve been watching the direction that Saanich has been going, and I feel very strongly that we need a new vision… We need a new direction and we need new leadership.”
DeLarge points to affordability concerns raised at public meetings and community events as a key reason for his campaign. He singled out rising property taxes and utility rates as pressures that, in his view, are making it increasingly difficult for residents to remain in Saanich.
Management background, emphasis on collaboration
He frames his candidacy around management experience in government, non‑profit and private sectors. His résumé includes:
- senior leadership roles in government and business;
- management of a major B.C. real estate company, where he oversaw about 300 employees and a government portfolio valued at roughly $600 million;
- responsibility for the provincial government’s leased property portfolio; and
- service as president of the Royal McPherson Theatre Society.
Those positions, he said, taught him that effective leadership relies on listening and working with others rather than imposing decisions. “You can be a bulldozer, but I find that’s not your best approach,” he said, adding that collaboration is “critical to success.”
Campaign priorities and local implications
DeLarge has made fiscal responsibility a central pillar of his message. He argues Saanich must prioritise spending to address affordability concerns and contain increases to property taxes and utility bills. He did not, in the published interview, detail specific budget measures or service reductions he would propose.
If elected, DeLarge’s emphasis on disciplined budgeting and cross‑sector experience could shift conversations at council about spending priorities, capital projects and taxation. His campaign also reflects broader municipal debates across the region about balancing services, infrastructure and the cost of living.
| Item | Details from campaign |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Save Our Saanich |
| Background | UVic graduate (economics & political science); roles in government, non‑profit and real estate |
| Management scale | ~300 employees; ~$600M government portfolio (in previous real estate role) |
| Top priority | Fiscal responsibility; address rising taxes and utility rates |
As the fall municipal election approaches, voters will be weighing DeLarge’s management credentials and fiscal argument against competing visions for growth, service levels and housing in Saanich. His campaign adds another voice to what is shaping up to be a debate over the municipality’s future direction and how it balances budgets with community priorities.
