Overall Rating	Gold - expired
Overall Score	80.17
Liaison	Mike Wilson
Submission Date	May 5, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Victoria
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	2.00 / 2.00	Susan Kerr Sustainability Coordinator Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Local advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:

As a representative of the University of Victoria, the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability participated in the shaping and development of the District of Saanich’s Active Transportation Plan policy by standing on its Active Transportation Planning Committee (ATPC). The purpose of the committee (and UVic’s role) was to advocate for and provide expertise in design in safe, efficient and valued sustainable modes of transportation in District of Saanich and to other municipality connections. The ATPC was active 2017-18, until the plan was adopted by the District of Saanich Council . In 2019-20, the Office of Campus Planning and Sustainability now sits on a monthly Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC), developing motions placed before the Saanich District Council to recommend and implement Plan projects and programs, including advocating the provincial government on changes to the current BC Provincial Motor Vehicle Act . Action Transportation Plan process and the Plan.

As a representative of the University of Victoria, the Director of Campus Planning and Sustainability advocated (via written letter) for the District of Saanich Council to address the acute need for student rental housing in the District of Saanich community. UVic’s letter was put forth to the District Count with the request to amend Zoning Bylaw 9608 to increase the number of housing occupancy limit of unrelated residents from 4 to 6. The university stated it supports the development of new housing policies, bylaws and initiatives to improve access to housing for UVic students, faculty and staff across the housing spectrum, including co-living, non-market housing, affordable rental housing, market rental housing, and affordable or entry-level ownership. UVic’s letter of support is attached . The District of Saanich Council passed the motion to amend the bylaw.

BC Provincial Motor Vehicle Act: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/26_58_00

Action Transportation Plan process: https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/getting-around/active-transportation-plan.html

Saanich Active Transportation Plan: https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Engineering/Active%20Transportation%20Plan%20FINAL%20(Web).pdf

Notice of public hearing: https://www.saanich.ca/assets/News~and~Events/Documents/2020/2020-06-20-ph-notice-unrelated-occupants-mailout.pdf

Regional advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:

In 2019, Calvin Sandborn, the legal director of the Environmental Law Centre at the University of Victoria and a representative of UVic, advocated for the B.C. provincial government to change provincial mining laws. In 2019, the UVic Environmental Law Centre published a plan that outlines mining law reform recommendations titled “B.C. Mining Law Reform: A Plan of Action for Change”. The Plan targets nine subject areas including water protection, First Nations governance, mining tenure and the imperative to protect taxpayers from billions in mine clean-up costs.

Full story: https://thenarwhal.ca/b-c-s-archaic-mining-laws-urgently-need-update-30-groups/

B.C. Mining Law Reform: A Plan of Action for Change: http://www.elc.uvic.ca/publications/bc-mining-law-reform/

National advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:

In late May of 2017, Miles Richardson, Director of UVic’s National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development (NCIED), and a citizen of the Haida Nation, spoke at the Senate of Canada’s Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. His presentation advocated for the need to implement the Federal Government’s then recent policy commitment to a renewed Nation-to-Nation relationship between Indigenous Nations and Canada.

Full story: https://www.uvic.ca/ncied/home/news/current/miles-richardson-speaks-at-the-senate-of-canadas-standing-committee-on-aboriginal-peoples.php

International advocacy

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:

Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:

In 2018, The University of Victoria’s POLIS Project on Ecological Governance and UVic’s Centre for Global Studies in partnership with the Canadian Water Resources Association (CWRA) hosted the Columbia River Treaty Symposium. The purpose of the Symposium was to discuss the future of the Columbia River Treaty – an international water agreement between the United States and Canada . Indigenous roles and responsibilities as part of modern governance of the Columbia River Treaty and the broader basin were a deliberate and primary focus of the UVic symposium. The Symposium was held one day before formal negotiations began between the two countries and was attended by participants from both sides of the border, including policy makers from all levels of government.

Full story: https://www.uvic.ca/news/topics/2018+international-water-agreement+news

Optional Fields

A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):

None – Universities are non-partisan and are unable to take political stances. It is not permitted by a public institution.

None

A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):

None – Universities are non-partisan and are unable to take political stances. It is not permitted by a public institution.

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:

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Additional documentation to support the submission:

Saanich_Mayor_and_Council_Zoning_Bylaw_Amendment_9608.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.