Rishi Sharma for Mayor, District of Saanich
Creating a More Affordable, Safe, and Healthy Saanich — One That Listens
Rishi’s Vision For Saanich
״ I believe this moment calls for practical, steady leadership. I’m a lifelong Saanich resident, I understand how government works, but more importantly, I understand that residents want to feel heard again."
"I want to help create a more affordable, safe, and healthy Saanich — one where families feel secure, neighbourhoods are respected, and decisions are made with residents, not for them.״
"I am honoured to have received the support of Save Our Saanich and to stand alongside a team of candidates committed to accountability, affordability, transparency, and meaningful community engagement."
About Rishi Sharma
Rishi Sharma is a lifelong Saanich resident, community leader, and former senior public servant committed to helping create a more affordable, safe, and healthy Saanich that listens to residents. With more than 25 years of leadership experience across government, community organizations, trades, and the private sector, Rishi brings practical experience, collaborative leadership, and a strong commitment to community-focused solutions.
Priorities
Affordability First
Families and seniors are feeling squeezed. Rishi will focus on keeping taxes manageable, improving transparency, protecting core services, and making practical decisions that respect taxpayers.
Safe & Healthy Communities
Saanich is a strong community, and keeping it safe matters. Rishi supports proactive neighbourhood safety, road improvements, school zone safety, and healthy communities for families and seniors.
Responsible Housing & Growth
Saanich needs practical housing solutions that improve affordability while respecting neighbourhoods. Growth should be responsible, infrastructure-ready, and shaped with residents.
Real Engagement & Accountability
Your voice is essential to our city. Rishi will prioritize open governance, have weekly, dedicated "open office" time slots for residents to come and share their insights, host frequent town halls, and provide clear progress reports to ensure local input defines our future.
My Approach
Listening First
Strong communities begin with listening. Rishi believes residents should have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their neighbourhoods and future.
Practical Leadership
Rishi focuses on practical, balanced solutions that improve affordability, strengthen public trust, and deliver results residents can see and feel.
Responsible Spending
Saanich residents deserve disciplined financial leadership. Rishi believes in finding efficiencies, reducing unnecessary spending, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and effectively.
Voices From Saanich
“Families and seniors are struggling with rising costs and want greater transparency around taxes and spending.”
– Saanich Resident
“Residents want responsible growth that respects neighbourhoods while creating housing options families can actually afford.”
– Local Resident
“Residents want Saanich to remain safe, welcoming, and proactive — from school zones and road safety to neighbourhood wellbeing.”
– Community Member
What Residents Are Asking
How will you help keep Saanich affordable?
As a father raising a family in Saanich, I understand how rising costs are affecting households. Families and seniors are making difficult choices every month, and local government must show the same discipline. I support a 100-day Core Services Review to identify efficiencies, improve accountability, and ensure Saanich is focused on delivering strong core services before asking taxpayers to pay more.
What does responsible growth look like?
Saanich will inevitably evolve, but that change must reflect both responsible and respectable growth. Respectable growth means respecting neighbourhood character, infrastructure limits, environmental stewardship, and meaningful public input. We need housing that works for families, but it must be planned with residents—not imposed on communities through top-down decisions.
How will you improve public safety?
Saanich is a safe and welcoming community, and we need to keep it that way. I support proactive neighbourhood safety, road and school zone improvements, and early action before problems become crises.
How will you make residents feel heard?
People want a real seat at the table. I support more meaningful engagement through town halls, neighbourhood conversations, transparent reporting, and stronger accountability around major decisions.
What are your priorities for transportation?
Residents want more than consultation—they want to be genuinely heard. I support meaningful engagement through open town halls, neighbourhood conversations, transparent reporting, and stronger accountability around major decisions. Public input should be captured accurately and shared in a timely way, with honest, unbiased surveys that seek real feedback rather than predetermined outcomes. Strong leadership means listening respectfully, even to difficult or uncomfortable perspectives, and ensuring residents have a meaningful voice in shaping Saanich’s future.
How will you protect taxpayers?
Every decision at City Hall should be viewed through a fiscal lens. The money Saanich spends does not come from nowhere—it comes directly from residents, seniors, families, and local businesses who are already feeling financial pressure. Protecting taxpayers means disciplined spending, strong oversight, careful prioritization, and asking tough questions before approving new borrowing or major projects. We must protect core services while ensuring every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely.
How will you balance housing and the environment?
Protecting green space, mature trees, and sensitive ecosystems matters. I believe we can support affordability and responsible housing while preserving what makes Saanich special.
What kind of leadership would you bring as mayor?
I believe leadership starts with listening. My focus is on respectful dialogue, practical problem solving, transparency, and bringing people together to build trust and move Saanich forward.