City of Victoria moves ahead on Indigenous reconciliation fund

Victoria has moved a step nearer to introducing a voluntary reconciliation fund that may give owners the choice of contributing financially to native Indigenous nations later this yr.

A majority of metropolis council committee members voted in favour on Thursday of supporting the fund, which can ask owners to voluntarily add between 5 and 10 per cent additional to their annual property tax invoice when tax notices are issued in June.

The proposal goes to a ultimate council vote on April 7.

Mayor Lisa Helps says the plan is for the town to gather the cash and supply it to the Victoria-area Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, together with a $200,000 reconciliation grant the council has beforehand authorised.

The mayor says many non-Indigenous folks in Victoria have expressed needs to do extra for reconciliation and the council considers a voluntary monetary contribution as a significant reconciliation dedication.

Council member Stephen Andrew spoke out in opposition to the fund on the committee assembly, saying individuals are free to make a contribution to native Indigenous nations on their very own and don’t have to look to a metropolis program.

“I help reconciliation efforts,” mentioned Andrew, who has introduced his candidacy for mayor on this fall’s municipal election.

“Nevertheless, this movement is one more foray by this council into what’s plainly provincial and federal jurisdiction. To me, that is straight advantage signalling.”