Scott Harrison Questionnaire

Inaccurate

1. Development

   “Historically, over half of the homes in our town were built in the 1980s.”

   Inaccurate About one in five homes was built in the 1980s. The Town’s housing plan says 48% were built before 1990, counting every decade before it.

   • In the 2021 Census, 900 of 4,435 occupied homes (20%) were built from 1981 to 1990. The biggest decade was 1991 to 2000, with 1,500 (34%). The 1980s and 1990s together make up 54%.
   • The same plan says 80% of homes are single-detached, which supports his wider point that the town needs other kinds of housing.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Jul 15, 2026 (Ways to Achieve Attainable Market Housing Plan; permissive tax exemptions) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Census Profile, 2021 Census: Qualicum Beach (Statistics Canada)

Misleading

1. Public input

   “In particular when private correspondence from a select few is resulting in the immediate adoption of a bylaw, as was the case with the tree bylaw […]”

   Misleading Letters asking for a tree bylaw did reach Council. But the Town’s own records say the rush came from Council’s strategic plan and its environment committee.

   • In January 2023 Council’s Select Committee on Environment and Sustainability recommended an interim tree protection bylaw based on the 2018 version. The staff memo for first reading says Council had named the bylaw a priority in its 2023–2026 strategic planning and had “conveyed a sense of urgency.” The memo mentions no correspondence.
   • Two letters did reach Council earlier: one in December 2022 asking for a temporary tree protection bylaw, and one in January 2023 about tree removal on two properties. Both were listed on the correspondence log and received for information.
   • First reading was March 22, 2023, and adoption on March 24, the earliest date the rules allow. He voted for first reading, left the meeting before second and third readings, and was absent when the bylaw was adopted. At first reading he voted against adding a public engagement process, and his own amendments failed without a seconder.
   On this site:

   • Tree Protection Bylaw update

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Mar 22, 2023 (Tree Protection Bylaw memo; 365 First Avenue West) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council agenda, Jan 18, 2023 (skate park recommendation) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Mar 22, 2023 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Special Council minutes, Mar 24, 2023 (Tree Protection Bylaw adopted) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

Accurate

1. Motive

   “[…] citizens over 75 (more than 28% of the population in the most recent census) […]”

   Accurate The Town’s housing plan gives 28%, or 2,640 people, from the 2021 census.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Jul 15, 2026 (Ways to Achieve Attainable Market Housing Plan; permissive tax exemptions) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

2. Finances

   “We should be aiming to reduce the share of taxation from commercial and light industrial taxes from under 10% to 15% (as opposed to roughly 25% in Parksville, and 35% in Tofino).”

   Accurate Business property pays 9.3% of Qualicum Beach’s municipal tax. Parksville’s figure is about 24%, and Tofino’s is higher than he says.

   • He means raising the business share to 15%, not reducing it.
   • In Qualicum Beach, residential property pays 89.9%. Tofino said in 2021 that businesses paid more than 44% of its municipal tax.

   Sources: Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 921.01 (adopted Jul 15, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Five Year Financial Plan 2026 to 2030, Bylaw No. 1599 (tax distribution by class) (City of Parksville); Tofino Tax Guide, Spring 2021 (District of Tofino)

3. Finances

   “[…] a recapitalization of the affordable housing reserve after it was spent to buy the golf course […]”

   Accurate The Town says the $450,000 affordable housing reserve went into the purchase. The reserve was at zero at the end of 2025.

   • The Financial Plan schedules $450,000 to go back into it in 2027 and 2028, from Eaglecrest land sales.
   On this site:

   • Where the purchase money came from

   Sources: 2025 Audited Financial Statements (Town of Qualicum Beach); 2026–2030 Financial Plan (adopted Apr 1, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Special Council minutes, Jul 23, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

4. Eaglecrest

   “Here we are, zero properties have been sold as of the most recent council meeting.”

   Accurate No Eaglecrest land sale has closed. The budget counts on $6,824,800 from land sales this year.

   On this site:

   • Land sales and repayments

   Sources: Financial Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 921.01 (adopted Jul 15, 2026) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Eaglecrest Project FAQ, Sep 14, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Eaglecrest land sales (Town of Qualicum Beach)

5. Eaglecrest

   “[…] a gorgeous building to provide long-term care was rejected before first reading […]”

   Accurate Council refused the 125-bed care home at 431 College Road on October 22, 2025, 3–2, before any reading.

   • He and Councillor Young voted against refusing it. At the same meeting Council set the five-storey limit for the Eaglecrest institutional zone; he voted against setting it at 15 metres.
   On this site:

   • The 125-bed care home

   Sources: Regular Council minutes, Oct 22, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council agenda and staff reports, Oct 22, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

6. Governance

   “Disbanding the public safety committee was incredibly short-sighted.”

   Accurate Council dissolved the Select Committee on Public Safety, Accessibility and Emergency Preparedness in May 2024, after a consultant’s review of committees.

   • Whether it was short-sighted is his opinion. We checked only that it happened.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Feb 12, 2025 (summary of 2024 Council resolutions) (Town of Qualicum Beach)

7. Development

   “This could also help stabilize the school district population which has been in decline for the past three years.”

   Accurate The Qualicum School District says enrolment has fallen since a bump in 2022 and 2023, and expects 50 to 80 fewer students in 2026–27.

   Sources: Enrolment projected to continue decline in Qualicum School District (Feb 17, 2026) (Parksville Qualicum Beach News)

8. Motive

   “I’m not a board member of any society the town does business with, which post Schlenker v Torgrimson is the legal standard for conflicts of interest in BC.”

   Accurate In 2013 the BC Court of Appeal ruled that councillors who sat on the board of a society contracting with their local government had a conflict.

   Sources: Schlenker v. Torgrimson, 2013 BCCA 9 (BC Court of Appeal)

9. Eaglecrest

   “When, as a council, you reject two duplexes in a term for being too much density […]”

   Accurate Mostly right. Council turned down two small infill proposals this term, and he backed both. At 365 First Avenue West it swapped duplex zoning for a house and a suite. At 441 Memorial Avenue a lot split that would have added a home died without a seconder. Neither was a straight duplex refusal, and the minutes record no density reason.

   • In March 2023 Council changed the rezoning at 365 First Avenue West from a zone that allowed a duplex to one that allows a house and a secondary suite, 3–2, with him and Councillor Young opposed. It was adopted that July. The duplex was refused, but a second home was still allowed as a suite.
   • In July 2023 a 10 cm frontage variance to split 441 Memorial Avenue into two single-family lots died when his motion to approve it got no seconder. The staff memo and the surveyor’s plan both show two lots, not a duplex, but the split would have added one home, the same as a duplex. Because the motion was never seconded, no one else is on record for or against it.
   • Council also refused a rezoning in June 2025 so four townhouses at 324 Chester Road could each be sold, 3–2, with him and Councillor Young opposed. That one didn’t change the number of homes.
   • The minutes don’t record Council’s reasons, so “for being too much density” is his reading, not the record’s.
   On this site:

   • 324 Chester Road
   • 441 Memorial Avenue

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Mar 22, 2023 (Tree Protection Bylaw memo; 365 First Avenue West) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Mar 22, 2023 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Jun 18, 2025 (Town of Qualicum Beach); Regular Council minutes, Jul 19, 2023 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

Couldn’t verify

1. Eaglecrest

   “In a council meeting this spring I asked staff that if we didn’t receive any successful bids for the 18th hole or the majority of the property we wish to sell this year, what would our financial situation be? I was told that they had yet to consider that.”

   Not verified Council minutes don’t record questions and answers, so we couldn’t check this.

   • Staff did plan for late land sales before this spring. A September 2025 report said that if sale proceeds weren’t received in time, Council could use temporary bridge financing from reserves and surplus.
   • We found no staff report on a year with no sales until the Town’s September 2026 FAQ, which says more borrowing from reserves may be needed if land-sale proceeds don’t keep pace.

   Sources: Regular Council agenda, Sep 17, 2025 (closed meeting motions released) (Town of Qualicum Beach); Eaglecrest Project FAQ, Sep 14, 2026 (Town of Qualicum Beach)

Scott Harrison’s record in office

• 2018–2026 · Council record

  On Council, 2018–2026

  Often the lone vote against Eaglecrest; missed 33 meetings this term.

Everything on Scott Harrison