Saanich and Victoria municipalities to face amalgamation plebiscite

Voters in the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria will face a plebiscite during the municipal election on October 17, 2026, to decide whether the two municipalities should amalgamate into a single entity.

The question presented to voters is: “Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?” The plebiscite is non-binding. Even if a majority in both communities votes in favor, the outcome would not trigger an immediate merger. Instead, it would signal to newly elected councils to pursue further studies and involve the provincial government before a legally binding referendum is considered.

If voters in either community reject the proposal, further work on amalgamation would cease. Currently, the two municipalities have a combined population of approximately 230,000 residents. While some local leaders note that public discussion has been limited, others suggest the topic is being actively discussed by residents.

Amalgamation would consolidate local governments and operations under one administration. The District of Saanich is the largest and most populous of the 13 municipalities in the Capital Regional District, while the City of Victoria occupies a smaller geographical area.