October 17 is the day. Vote for change and accountability in Saanich. Read the record before you vote →
The Record

The People Behind the Decisions, From the Public Record

This section documents, from the public record, the staff reports, administrative decisions, and enforcement actions behind the expansion of enforcement powers, and the officials who carried them out. Sources: council minutes, staff reports, budgets, court records, regulatory filings, and freedom-of-information releases.

BR

Brent Reems

Chief Administrative Officer

Director of Building, Bylaw, Licensing & Legal Services 2017 to 2021; acting CAO from 29 November 2021; five-year term from January 2023. The enforcement model is his.

  • Wrote the 2018 policy that dropped the safeguards he had recommended
  • Wrote Report 1970-20; had told council in 2019 that tickets would not pay for officers
  • Told council Bylaw 9694 made "no consequential changes"
  • Enforcement cost $644,700 in 2020, $1,598,600 in 2025
  • Council ordered his performance review in 2022; none has appeared
AB

Angila Bains

Director of Legislative & Protective Services / Corporate Officer

Holds the statutory office of Corporate Officer. Approved Report 161050 recommending the Section 57 notice. Made a June 23, 2025 statement to Council that the Section 57 notice addresses contraventions said to "impact life and safety" on the property; that statement is at issue in VLC-S-S-262461. The allegations are unproven and before the court.

  • Approved Report 161050 recommending Section 57 notice
  • Authorized service by registered mail only — ignoring known legal counsel
  • Remained silent at Council (Nov 20, 2023) about returned mail
  • June 23, 2025 statement to Council that the notice addresses contraventions said to "impact life and safety"
  • Subject of civil claim: misfeasance, negligence, defamation
DR

Doug Roberts

Manager of Legislative Services (Retired April 2025)

Former Manager of Legislative Services; retired from the District in April 2025. Named as a personal defendant in VLC-S-S-262461. The allegations are unproven and are before the court.

  • Current status: retired from the District of Saanich in April 2025; subsequently took a role with the Town of View Royal
  • Former Manager of Legislative Services (to April 2025)
  • Involved in the development of the enforcement-expansion model now under public scrutiny
  • Named defendant — allegations unproven and before the court
RT

Roy Thomassen

Manager of Inspection Services / Chief Building Official, RBO, ACBOA

Prepared 87.5% of all Section 57 reports. Subject of a formal BOABC professional-conduct complaint (December 2025, BOA-025-2025) alleging that unqualified Bylaw Enforcement Officers were permitted to make Building Code determinations contrary to Building Act s.10(2). The complaint file was closed June 11, 2026; the delegation allegation was referred to the BOABC Registrar as file BA-026-2026 (Building Act ss.10(2) and 10(3)) and is now under investigation by the Registrar. Presented to Council on July 14, 2025 the inspection methodology later rejected by the BC Supreme Court in Kinney v. Saanich, 2025 BCSC 1132.

  • Prepared 14 of 16 Section 57 reports
  • Methodology rejected by BC Supreme Court in Kinney v. Saanich, 2025 BCSC 1132
  • Presented rejected methodology to Council July 14, 2025 without disclosure
  • Allowed unqualified BEOs to make Building Code decisions
  • BOABC complaint BOA-025-2025 closed June 11, 2026; delegation allegation now under investigation by the Registrar as BA-026-2026
DRi

Dean Ridley

Senior Manager of Bylaw and Licensing (Left Saanich April 2025)

Former Senior Manager of Bylaw and Licensing; no longer employed by the District of Saanich as of April 2025. Named as a personal defendant in VLC-S-S-262461. The allegations are unproven and are before the court.

  • Current status: departed the District of Saanich in April 2025; per his LinkedIn profile, now works in enforcement with the BC Ministry of Forests
  • Former Senior Manager of Bylaw and Licensing (to April 2025)
  • Coordinated between the Bylaw and Building departments
  • Named defendant — allegations unproven and before the court
GN

Greg Nelson

Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Currently on Authorized Leave)

Bylaw Enforcement Officer who participated in the July 2023 enforcement action at the property. The exercise of building official functions by uncertified personnel is at issue in Building Act file BA-026-2026, now under investigation by the BOABC Registrar (ss.10(2) and 10(3)); no findings have been made. Named as a personal defendant in VLC-S-S-262461. The allegations are unproven and are before the court.

  • Bylaw Enforcement Officer involved in the July 2023 enforcement action
  • No BOABC Building Act s.10 certification
  • Under investigation in Building Act file BA-026-2026 (BOABC Registrar); no findings made
  • Named defendant — allegations unproven and before the court
RC

Robert Carrie

Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Left Saanich)

Former Saanich Bylaw Enforcement Officer involved in the 2022–2023 investigation at the property. The exercise of building official functions by uncertified personnel is at issue, alongside Greg Nelson, in Building Act file BA-026-2026, now under investigation by the BOABC Registrar (ss.10(2) and 10(3)); no findings have been made.

  • Former Bylaw Enforcement Officer; involved in the 2022–2023 investigation
  • Under investigation in Building Act file BA-026-2026 (BOABC Registrar); no findings made

What Residents Can Do

Read the source documents, attend council meetings, use the freedom-of-information process, and write to Council about independent oversight of how enforcement powers are used.

v8.3 · 6 Oct 2026