Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board approved three significant strategies at its meeting on September 9, 2026, establishing long-term direction to guide regional services, infrastructure investment, and organizational priorities, across the region. The strategies are the Regional Housing Affordability Strategy, the Reconciliation Action Plan, and the Climate Action Strategy.
Regional Housing Affordability Strategy (RHAS)
The update to the RHAS is designed to highlight actions that provide ongoing opportunities to increase impact, clarify the CRD’s role, mobilize and focus advocacy, and align resources and activities in working toward a region where residents have access to affordable housing that enhances livability.
The CRD also has a long-standing role in delivering housing affordability in the region. This work spans more than 50 years, beginning with the Land Banking and Housing (LBH) service in 1974, followed by the creation of the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) in 1982 and, more recently, the establishment of the Regional Housing Trust Fund (RHTF) in 2005.
The RHAS, last updated in 2018, reflected the CRD’s growing mandate in housing and homelessness efforts while incorporating shifts in market conditions, demographic trends, and intergovernmental policy. Since then, the RHAS has made impacts by delivering approximately 1,500 total new homes through the Regional Housing First Program (RHFP), administering $55.5M through various federal programs, and gaining authorization of $85M to increase the supply of affordable housing.
Reconciliation Action Plan
The CRD approved its first Reconciliation Action Plan, establishing a 10-year framework to advance reconciliation through measurable actions across its operations, programs, and services.
Developed with input from First Nations, the plan supports the Board in operationalizing and building on CRD Board Priorities, strategic plans, and government-to-government Memoranda of Understanding and Protocol Agreements. Key actions focus on advancing Indigenous self-determination and relationship building, supporting shared prosperity through economic opportunities, respecting First Nations relationship to lands and waters, and fostering cultural safety through art, signage and education.
Climate Action Strategy
The CRD adopted the renewed Climate Action Strategy 2026–2030 to guide climate action at the CRD for the next five years.
The strategy renews the CRD’s role, approach, and proposed actions for 2026-2030, and focuses on opportunities to reduce emissions and protect communities while creating a more resilient, affordable, and livable capital region.
Together, these plans address some of the region’s most pressing opportunities and challenges, including population growth, housing needs, climate resilience, infrastructure renewal, and reconciliation. They provide clear long-term direction for essential services while ensuring the CRD remains responsive to changing community needs. While the plans establish the overall direction and priorities, any resources or funding required to advance specific actions will be reviewed and considered by incoming Boards through the CRD’s annual budgeting process.
The approval of these strategies also marks the successful completion of several key priorities identified within the CRD Board's strategic and corporate planning framework for the 2023-2026 term.
Following the October elections, the incoming CRD Board will participate in a strategic priority planning process to establish its priorities for the 2027-2030 term. The priorities identified through this process will be considered alongside the CRD’s existing strategic priorities helping to ensure corporate planning efforts and resource allocation remain aligned with long-term regional objectives and Board direction.
This approach supports continuity in regional planning while providing the new CRD Board with the opportunity to refine direction, as required, in response to emerging priorities and community needs.
For more information about the CRD's strategic plans and priorities, visit www.crd.ca/plans
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492
