November 2025 Municipal Update
November 2025 Newsletter
From the Mayor’s Desk
As we move toward the end of the year, I want to take a moment to update you on some important work your Council has been undertaking.
Municipal governance often requires navigating complex procedural matters, issues that may not make headlines but are essential to ensuring that our community remains well-run, transparent, and accountable.
Over the past several months, while Council members have been carrying out our day-to-day responsibilities overseeing municipal operations, we have also been required to address a number of complaints filed under our Council Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest bylaws. Six complaints were submitted within the last three months. These matters have taken time and, in some cases, municipal resources to address. In my September remarks to residents, I spoke about these concerns and the Council’s commitment to resolve them so that we could continue to operate effectively on behalf of the community.
The RMV Council has taken these matters seriously. At the conclusion of our regular Council meeting on November 24, the outstanding complaints were reviewed, decisions were made, and actions were taken to ensure that the municipality’s interests were fully protected. This included, for example, removing one of our Council members from their role as chair of two Council committees. A small number of items remain and will be addressed at our December meeting. The motions passed during the public portion of the November meeting will be posted shortly on our website so residents can review all the steps that were taken.
At that same November meeting, Council also passed a motion accepting the provincial government’s offer to provide conflict-management training for all RMV Council members. This follows a meeting on October 20, convened by the Director of Municipal Affairs, which all members of Council attended. That meeting was organized in response to complaints received by their office. During the session, Council members provided feedback to the Director and expressed support for the department’s offer to provide training.
As your Mayor, I want to assure you that I remain committed to doing everything possible to ensure that our municipality functions effectively and continues to provide the services our residents expect and rely on. Working through difficult issues is part of responsible governance, and I am confident that the actions the Council has taken will strengthen our ability to serve you in the year ahead.
On November 12, the project team, led by officials from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI), held a public meeting to present their assessment and proposed plans for addressing erosion along the Causeway Road, and to gather community feedback. It was encouraging to see such a strong turnout for the session.
Attendees were able to offer comments after the presentations and were also invited to provide additional feedback to DTI by phone at 902-368-5221 or by email at kelliemacrae@gov.pe.ca. Copies of the two presentations shared at the session are available on the municipality’s website. I encourage everyone in the community to provide feedback to the provincial team, even if you were unable to attend in person.
I would like to share my feedback below, that focuses specifically on the timing of the proposed abatement work discussed at the meeting.
Thank you very much for the professional and well-organized presentations and engagement session last night. As I mentioned, everyone I spoke with afterward felt both informed and heard. I understand from speaking to the team members last evening that you received considerable feedback from the attendees.
After considering the information presented, my primary concern relates to the suggestion that there is still ample time to decide on mitigation measures to protect our infrastructure. The timelines discussed don’t seem to align with what we’ve observed in recent decades; the steady loss of land and buildings over the past 50 years. With more frequent and severe weather events expected due to climate change, I believe we should act sooner rather than later to preserve the land available for recreation and to protect infrastructure along the causeway.
I do not want to see these important decisions deferred to future generations simply because of resource constraints. The village and the parkway are recognized jewels of provincial tourism, and residents have expressed their willingness to do what is necessary to protect the historic and natural treasures that make Victoria what it is today. In addition, our municipality has supported economic development along the causeway, and it is important that those investments and interests are also protected.
Ideally, I would like to see a coastal protection strategy and implementation plan completed by next year, with recommended projects; whether armouring, shoreline plantings, or other measures, beginning shortly thereafter. Residents should know that every effort is being made to safeguard our infrastructure and preserve the remaining land for future generations to enjoy. This includes ensuring protection of all existing land within the provincial park and maintaining public access to the beach at low tide.
If we all agree that the infrastructure is worth saving and that the economic consequences of inaction would be unacceptable, then it makes little sense to wait until circumstances compel us to act.
Our Council has not yet formed any positions on the information presented, and you may have already received, or will soon receive, individual feedback from our Council members. I would like the Council to have the opportunity to discuss the information provided, review your team’s recommendations, and respond with a collective position. If this is possible, I anticipate that this will occur sometime next month.
I look forward to continued communication with your team and, if the suggested timeline is feasible, to setting a future date to engage the community with a completed plan.
We have vacancies for residents who would like to serve on our Emergency Management Planning Committee. The committee doesn’t meet often, but its work is critical to ensuring the safety and security of our residents. As well, we are still looking for someone in our community to assume the volunteer role of Municipal Emergency Measures Coordinator. Information about this position is provided on our website.
Finally, you have recently received an invitation to attend the Village Christmas Meet & Greet on December 9th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Old School House. With so many new residents joining our community in recent years, I felt this would be a wonderful opportunity for everyone to mingle, share some holiday cheer, and get to know one another a little better. I hope to see you there.
I encourage all residents to stay engaged and reach out with questions, ideas, or feedback on how we can continue improving our municipal services. You can contact your Council representatives or the Municipal Office directly. I am also available at 902-388-7584 or by email at allenfarm17@gmail.com. For updates and more information, please visit our website.
Martin Ruben, Mayor
From the Municipal Office
Development permits for 2025
The Municipality processed eleven development permits in 2025. Although limited in number, these permits have a significant value due to the two housing projects planned by developers. This level of interest in Victoria is a positive sign.
The MacDonald land rezoning is still under consideration by the owners and the developer. A preliminary approval of a subdivision agreement between the present owners and the Municipality is the first step chosen by the Council to guarantee access to the estuary. (See notices on our website for future details). In addition, there have been a number of new constructions in the Dunrovin Shores Subdivision and more development is planned for the spring of 2026 in this area.
The Planning Board used a new process in 2025, and the public presentation of permit applications during monthly Planning Board meetings has been recognized by residents as an improvement. Special thanks go to the Planning Board members, who analyse each application for merit and compliance with our bylaws.
The Board will soon recommend to the Council a number of amendments to the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw. This annual revision of our zoning rules is necessary to account for a variety of situations, from new building materials to newly acquired municipal land.
Community Services
The Council recently approved a collaborative project with Crapaud for new child care services on the South Shore. This follows a meeting with Education and Early Years Minister Croucher, and reflects the need to accommodate 69 children in our area to access childcare. Initial steps to better analyze the exact needs for this community service are underway, and regular reports will be made to the Council. This project is essential for any future housing development in Victoria.
Collaboration with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Step by step, and brick by brick. Following the Zoning Plan and the more recent Strategic Plan, an overall view of what Victoria could look like in the next decades is needed. Both Victoria’s Council and ACOA will collaborate on a master layout plan for the Village. The goal is to develop a forward-looking view for vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle circulation patterns, parking and other features in the context of the touristic and historical character of Victoria. Climate adaptation will also be considered, as the plan is intended to guide future development.
Financially supported by ACOA, the production of such a plan will shape future municipal projects such as water and sewer extensions and community services. A request for proposal will be launched in the next few weeks.
Emergency repairs of the W&S network
As our W&S network ages, repairs made this summer at the wastewater treatment plant are now completed and new repairs will have to be done shortly at one of our three water wells. An electrical control unit will also be installed at the water station to maintain service of all three water pumps during power outages.
The Water and Sewer Corporation Board and the Municipal Office are looking for ways to finance an overall assessment of our systems that should guide future investment decisions while the financial resources of the Corporation are scarce.
A New Capital Contribution Policy (CCP) is Adopted
A CCP is a way to regulate the cost of a new water and sewer connection needed for a future industrial, commercial or housing development. From now on, this policy, recently adopted by the Council, will determine how the cost of a connection to our W&S network will be distributed among future residents, new businesses and developers. The policy also prevents existing residents from paying for W&S services in new developments. The idea of such a policy was already part of the 2024 Official Plan of the Municipality, but the Municipal Office developed a practical model to be used for future projects that will inform developers about the financial standards of such services. This policy is now applicable for all new projects.
Second Quarter Budget Update
Our Financial and Administrative Assistant, Wanting Liu, recently made a presentation to the Council regarding our financial situation after six months of the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Although the Municipality had to deal with about $50,000 of unexpected water and sewer related expenses, an increase of about $15,000 for the Community Hall roofing due to heritage standards, and approximately $2,500 in upgrades at the Welcome Centre, the prospect of a small financial surplus is realistic at this point. In addition, nine grant programs are currently being considered by the Municipality.
An analysis of Canada Community Building Fund allocations since the last 20 years shows that approximately $390,000 remains available for capital investment projects through 2029.
Procurement Bylaw and Policy
All organizations need to have procurement rules to guide the purchase of goods and services. As part of the management improvements suggested by the Municipal Office, the Council members recently received a draft Procurement Bylaw and Policy for their consideration. While the bylaw indicates when the procurement rules should be applied, the policy indicates how they should be applied to a variety of circumstances. Procurement rules can be challenging given the limited number of suppliers in PEI, but a careful application of these new tools could bring substantial savings.
Administrative Updates
Although the Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality, Yves Dallaire, is now managing the Municipal Office from a distance, services are more accessible than ever. Wanting Liu, the Financial and Administrative Assistant is available at the Old School from Monday to Thursday 9:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm. The office can be reached at 902-658-2541. The CAO is on site several days each month, and in-person meetings can be arranged during those visits. Otherwise, the CAO may be contacted anytime at: victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com or the FAA at faavictoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com. Zoom meetings are also welcome.
For the coming Christmas Holidays, the Municipal Office will be closed from December 24, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
For more information on any of these topics, please contact the Municipal Office or visit our website. We thank residents for their continued engagement and support.
That’s all for this month! See past issues at www.RMVictoria.com/newsletters
Questions or feedback? Info for a future newsletter or photos you’re willing to share?
Contact staff at victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com
Victoria Historic Schoolhouse
730 Victoria Road, Victoria, PE,
C0A 1J0, Canada