Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleVoters in Victoria and Saanich returned opposite results on a non-binding question about whether the two municipalities should become one city. Victoria voters supported the idea, with 17,523 Yes votes compared with 10,890 No votes. In Saanich, the result went the other way: 24,663 voters chose No and 11,626 chose Yes.
The results were included in the official declarations for the October 17, 2026 municipal elections. Both municipalities described the ballot question as non-binding, meaning the votes do not themselves amalgamate Victoria and Saanich or require either council to proceed with a merger.
Victoria voters support exploring a merger
The City of Victoria’s official declaration recorded 17,523 votes for Yes and 10,890 for No on the question: “Do you support Saanich and Victoria becoming one municipality?” The City identifies the question as non-binding.
Marianne Alto was elected mayor with 13,505 votes in the same election. The eight councillors declared elected were Stephen Hammond, Matt Dell, Marg Gardiner, Jeremy Caradonna, Melissa Cseszko, Jack Sandor, Wendy Bowkett and Dave Thompson. The City reported voter turnout of 41.44 per cent.
Saanich voters reject the proposal
Saanich’s official results show 24,663 No votes and 11,626 Yes votes on the same non-binding question. The District reported 38,299 ballots cast, representing 42.74 per cent of eligible voters.
Rishi Sharma was elected mayor of Saanich with 17,157 votes. The eight councillors elected were Lorne DeLarge, Nancy Di Castri, Colin Plant, Laurie Lidstone, Graham Wright, Matt McGeachie, Nathalie Chambers and Teale Phelps Bondaroff.
What the results mean
The two results are separate municipal public-opinion votes, not a single region-wide referendum. Victoria residents backed the idea while Saanich residents rejected it. Because both questions were non-binding, neither result automatically changes municipal boundaries or creates a merged government.
Any future proposal would require further decisions by the municipalities and the applicable provincial process. The official results establish how voters responded to the question on October 17; they do not establish that an amalgamation plan has been approved, funded or formally launched.
Official sources
- City of Victoria — 2026 municipal election information and official results
- City of Victoria — Declaration of Official Election Results, October 21, 2026
- District of Saanich — Saanich confirms election results, October 21, 2026
- District of Saanich — official results for the non-binding public-opinion question
StudioX News checked both municipalities’ official election records on November 3, 2026. The two ballot questions were non-binding and the results are reported separately.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
