Karin Sweeney
Council · Oak Bay
Oak Bay 15 yrs
About
Oak Bay is home. It is where my children grew up, where I have built lasting friendships, and where I have invested my time through community work. I am running because the municipal government is where I can make the most meaningful difference.
Policy commitments
Buildings
We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.
✓
Support electrification of new buildings.
Supportive
Climate Justice
Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.
✓
Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation.
Supportive
Ecosystems
The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.
✓
Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being.
Supportive
✓
Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater.
Supportive
Land Use
We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.
✓
Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience.
Supportive
✓
Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens.
Supportive
Transport
Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).
✓
Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone.
Supportive
✓
Expand EV charging infrastructure.
Supportive
Watersheds
Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.
✓
Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure.
Supportive
Zero Waste
Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.
✓
Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible.
Supportive
✓ Supportive
~ Neutral
× Opposed
– No response
Climate action
How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?
My background in climate action comes from both formal education and volunteer work. I hold a Master of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo (2002) and completed a Micro-certificate in Climate Action Planning through the University of Victoria and UNITAR-CIFAL (2024).
In Oak Bay, I served on the District of Oak Bay's Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee (2022–2026), including as Co-Chair in 2026. I have been a climate champion with the Oak Bay Coolkit program since 2022, engaging residents in climate solutions, and an active member of Oak Bay Climate Force since 2024, supporting climate-friendly policies, working with climate organizations across the Capital Regional District, and advocating directly with the District of Oak Bay on climate policy.
Beyond Oak Bay, I have volunteered as a climate facilitator with RegenerateBC (2025–2026) and served on Dogwood's South Island Regional Team (2024–2025), advocating for climate justice and against fracking and LNG pipeline expansion.
Every day, I work to reduce my own carbon footprint through conscious choices, from how I get around to what I eat and buy.
In Oak Bay, I served on the District of Oak Bay's Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee (2022–2026), including as Co-Chair in 2026. I have been a climate champion with the Oak Bay Coolkit program since 2022, engaging residents in climate solutions, and an active member of Oak Bay Climate Force since 2024, supporting climate-friendly policies, working with climate organizations across the Capital Regional District, and advocating directly with the District of Oak Bay on climate policy.
Beyond Oak Bay, I have volunteered as a climate facilitator with RegenerateBC (2025–2026) and served on Dogwood's South Island Regional Team (2024–2025), advocating for climate justice and against fracking and LNG pipeline expansion.
Every day, I work to reduce my own carbon footprint through conscious choices, from how I get around to what I eat and buy.
Questions for Oak Bay
What are your top priorities for the next 4 years to address Oak Bay’s climate, environmental, and Coolkit goals?
My top priorities are guided by solutions that protect our natural environment, build community resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while prioritizing both climate mitigation and adaptation. This includes the need to:
Deliver on Oak Bay’s climate plans: Complete the Community Climate Action Plan in 2027, implement the Corporate Climate Action Plan including the EV-Ready Fleet Plan, and uphold the Zero Carbon Step Code.
Plan growth around nature: Build canopy retention, climate resilience and stormwater management into new housing and density decisions. Uphold the Urban Forest Management Strategy and Tree Protection Bylaw, and expand nature-based solutions. Support the updated Bowker Creek Blueprint. Design homes and infrastructure to withstand projected climate impacts.
Make low-carbon choices easy. Follow through on the Active Transportation Strategy, advocate for EV charging and e-bike support, expand car-share access to all Oak Bay neighbourhoods, and improve access to clean energy retrofits and rebates.
Prepare and protect residents: Strengthen the Emergency Response Plan and public education through the Oak Bay Emergency Program, advocate for a Right to Cool bylaw to protect renters during extreme heat, and continue supporting the Oak Bay Coolkit and other climate education opportunities.
Deliver on Oak Bay’s climate plans: Complete the Community Climate Action Plan in 2027, implement the Corporate Climate Action Plan including the EV-Ready Fleet Plan, and uphold the Zero Carbon Step Code.
Plan growth around nature: Build canopy retention, climate resilience and stormwater management into new housing and density decisions. Uphold the Urban Forest Management Strategy and Tree Protection Bylaw, and expand nature-based solutions. Support the updated Bowker Creek Blueprint. Design homes and infrastructure to withstand projected climate impacts.
Make low-carbon choices easy. Follow through on the Active Transportation Strategy, advocate for EV charging and e-bike support, expand car-share access to all Oak Bay neighbourhoods, and improve access to clean energy retrofits and rebates.
Prepare and protect residents: Strengthen the Emergency Response Plan and public education through the Oak Bay Emergency Program, advocate for a Right to Cool bylaw to protect renters during extreme heat, and continue supporting the Oak Bay Coolkit and other climate education opportunities.
How would you ensure natural assets like mature trees and ecosystem corridors on private and public land, and Bowker Creek Blueprint goals, are prioritized before buildings are sited or designed? Does this support or change the OCP, processes, or bylaws?
I support the UBCM endorsements, but they lack provincial legislative backing. That is why Oak Bay must work hard to protect natural assets like mature tree canopy and ecosystem corridors on both private and public land, and prioritize the updated Bowker Creek Blueprint before siting buildings.
On private land with significant natural assets, a development permit area (DPA) would require an environmental assessment before development proceeds. These assessments would allow flexible siting and variances so buildings can be shifted away from significant trees. The DPA guidelines would be anchored in OCP policy and reinforced by the Tree Protection Bylaw, which I would work to strengthen. Through the Rainwater Management Bylaw, I would work to strengthen the OCP requirement for permeable surfaces and a 40% canopy requirement by 2045.
For public land, the OCP calls for a new Parks Master Plan, enhanced biodiversity corridors, and partnerships with volunteer-led stewardship groups such as Friends of Uplands Park and the Friends of Bowker Creek, to advance community-led restoration and monitoring. I would also work to include Indigenous knowledge and collaboration on natural areas management, and support the Community Green Mapping Project.
For Bowker Creek, the OCP sets out several objectives in support of the updated Bowker Creek Blueprint, including acquiring land along the creek; supporting daylighting, habitat restoration, and greenway corridors; monitoring and community stewardship; and the Watercourses Development Permit Area. Beyond the OCP, I would support bylaws with these objectives in the Cadboro Bay/Foul Bay Village Plan and complete flood mapping.
On private land with significant natural assets, a development permit area (DPA) would require an environmental assessment before development proceeds. These assessments would allow flexible siting and variances so buildings can be shifted away from significant trees. The DPA guidelines would be anchored in OCP policy and reinforced by the Tree Protection Bylaw, which I would work to strengthen. Through the Rainwater Management Bylaw, I would work to strengthen the OCP requirement for permeable surfaces and a 40% canopy requirement by 2045.
For public land, the OCP calls for a new Parks Master Plan, enhanced biodiversity corridors, and partnerships with volunteer-led stewardship groups such as Friends of Uplands Park and the Friends of Bowker Creek, to advance community-led restoration and monitoring. I would also work to include Indigenous knowledge and collaboration on natural areas management, and support the Community Green Mapping Project.
For Bowker Creek, the OCP sets out several objectives in support of the updated Bowker Creek Blueprint, including acquiring land along the creek; supporting daylighting, habitat restoration, and greenway corridors; monitoring and community stewardship; and the Watercourses Development Permit Area. Beyond the OCP, I would support bylaws with these objectives in the Cadboro Bay/Foul Bay Village Plan and complete flood mapping.
The federal government just gave Oak Bay $70,000 to plan for climate resilience. How would you support the allocation of these funds to increase community health and safety?
I would support allocating these funds to a program that incentivizes rain garden construction on private property to reduce flooding from increased rainfall, which can cause both overland flooding and overloaded storm drains. Flooding is one of the most notable impacts of climate change that Oak Bay residents are currently experiencing.
This program could be modelled on the City of Victoria's Rainwater Rewards Program, offering design guidelines and practical, hands-on solutions that help maintain and restore natural water cycles. In turn, this program would support community health and safety by reducing flood risk, improving water quality, cooling the air during extreme heat events, and strengthening social wellbeing.
This program could be modelled on the City of Victoria's Rainwater Rewards Program, offering design guidelines and practical, hands-on solutions that help maintain and restore natural water cycles. In turn, this program would support community health and safety by reducing flood risk, improving water quality, cooling the air during extreme heat events, and strengthening social wellbeing.
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