Victoria to provide $200,000 reconciliation grant to Songhees and Esquimalt Nations – Times Colonist

Council vote was 6 to 2. Mayor Lisa Helps brought forward the idea, saying the intention is to share the city’s wealth with the First Nations on whose land Victoria sits.

Victoria councillors have approved allocation of $200,000 in the 2022 budget to create a grant for the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, demonstrating the city’s commitment to reconciliation.

The grant will come from the city’s 2021 surplus and would be included in the five-year financial plan as a pilot project, to come from new assessed revenue in subsequent years.

Mayor Lisa Helps, who brought forward the idea, has said the intention is to share the city’s wealth with the nations whose land Victoria sits on.

Read More: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/victoria-to-provide-200000-reconciliation-grant-to-songhees-and-esquimalt-nations-5014175