Another set of eyes needed
If local politicians really believed in fiscal accountability they would create the position of independent regional auditor general to impartially watch the 13 local jurisdictions, says the Grumpy Taxpayer$ of…
Province must pay for policing protests
CFAX Interview with Host Adam Sterling, Sept. 22, 2021 Annual VicPD grant of $50,000 insufficient City of Victoria and Esquimalt taxpayers are unfairly picking up most of the bills for…
Golden handshakes, parachutes and severances costly
Do councils know the role of the chief administrative officer is non-political, non-partisan, non-ideological and independent? You wouldn’t know it by looking at the millions of dollars in financial settlements…
Violent crimes going unsolved
CFAX INTERVIEW: Chair John Treleaven in conversation with Adam Stirling at CFAX Regional police force needed Fewer criminal charges for violent crimes are being laid making it more difficult to…
Affordable housing within our grasp
Ratepayers, homeowners and renters aren’t ATM machines BY GEORGE BARNHART, BOARD MEMBER, GRUMPY TAXPAYER$ OF GREATER VICTORIA Who doesn’t want their rent or mortgage payment reduced by a third? Finding…
Why does Langford council sign cheques?
Unusual practice legal, but inappropriate The municipal watchdog Grumpy Taxpayer$ wonders why the mayor and councillors have signing authority to pay the bills at the City of Langford. “There are…
Fractured local governance encouraged
A commentary by Colin Nielsen, board member, and Stan Bartlett, past chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria Taxpayers are mystified as to why governments continue to encourage fractured local…
Serving a higher purpose
Clearly the role of councillors extends far beyond their jurisdictional boundaries and underlying municipal legislation (Saanich councillor heads to blockade with other Island politicians, hoping to get arrested, Times Colonist,…
Greater Victoria by the numbers
The words of Pythagoras, an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher and alleged vegetarian, still live on a couple of thousand years after he suggested that numbers rule the universe. While unsure…