Hello there!

Today we have an update on the legal process that continues 6 years after a local tragedy, and additional info about the election race in Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke. Our election coverage will continue for the next two weeks, with more info from candidates coming soon.

— Cam

NEWS

Metchosin escapee’s murder conviction upheld by BC Court of Appeal

BC's highest court will not advance a new trial for James Lee Busch in the killing of Martin Payne in 2019. Busch and Zachary Armitage were both sentenced to life after being convicted of killing the local man, 60, following their escape from William Head. Armitage entered a guilty plea during trial, apologizing to the family, while Busch's guilt was decided by the jury.

Busch's appeal had argued that the original judge didn't properly instruct that jury on the matter of liability for aiding a murder. Busch has maintained that he was not extensively involved in a killing he says was done by Armitage. His lawyer told the Canadian Press that a further appeal may be taken to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The escape & murder

After walking away from William Head at low tide in July 2018, the duo entered the Metchosin home of Payne. They used his computer to research transportation and their situation. When Payne returned, they attacked him and in the struggle killed him, the Court heard. They intended, the Crown argued, to confine him and get his financial access.

The fugitives were later caught when they commented on the dog of a passing off-duty police officer. Payne’s body was found there a few days later during a wellness check.

The process leading up to it

Busch and Armitage were both violent offenders and considered at high risk to reoffend. Corrections documents obtained by Capital Daily revealed that the scales used to rank an inmate’s security level were manually overridden for both inmates. Armitage had made prior escapes, though he was believed to have shifted away from such designs. Correctional staff flagged Busch, in summer 2019, as a “time bomb” and poor fit for minimum security.

There have since been some changes to the process, including policies allowing receiving prisons to give input on prisoner transfers.

Payne’s daughters Calla and Jessica Payne filed a wrongful death civil suit in 2022 against Correctional Service Canada, arguing his death was a “direct and foreseeable consequence” of breaches of care including monitoring on the day-of and the prior overrides.

FEDERAL ELECTION 2025

The full field of candidates in Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke 

The final Elections Canada roster includes more candidates than we had last week when we introduced the riding, and this month's local election race. Below are the 8 people vying for the seat, along with more info on their positions.

You can read this information, get links to candidate pages, and learn more of the riding's backstory in the full article here.

Lists of priorities are not exhaustive but are based on topics and proposals emphasized on candidate webpages and social media, and in public comments. Candidates with more information released publicly will have slightly more items listed. Candidate sequence below is based on past party results in the riding.

NDP (incumbent party): Maja Tait, Sooke mayor

Priorities include: Environmental protection, affordable housing, funding Sooke Gathering Place, reducing GST for small businesses, dental care / pharmacare, grocery price caps, Indigenous & 2SLGBTQ+ rights

Liberal: Stephanie McLean, lawyer & former Alberta NDP minister

Priorities include: Protecting Canada, building more homes in BC, growing a strong local economy, supporting CFB Esquimalt & increasing defence spending, clean energy projects, seniors

Conservative: Grant Cool, aerospace engineer

Priorities include: "Restoring affordability, public safety, and prosperity,” veteran supports, seniors supports, more addiction treatment spaces, stricter sentencing for crimes, cutting taxes

Green: Ben Homer-Dixon, UVic geography student

Piorities include: Climate action incl. local anti-pollution & disaster mitigation, social justice and economic equity, dental & pharmacare

PPC: Nikita Heurtier, kinesiologist

Campaign information not available

Communist Party: Robert Crooks, youth arts programmer

Priorities include: Affordability, worker / renter / civil rights, ending corporate tax breaks, dental / pharma / mental health care

Independent: Param Bhatti, engineer

Priorities include: Economic opportunity, accessible healthcare, essential skills training, housing affordability, permanent GST exemption on essential services, tax credits for volunteers

Christian Heritage: David Schaafsma, optometrist

Priorities include: “Life, family, and freedom"

Read more about all candidates’ platforms and backgrounds.

Around the 'Shore

🚍 Bus route changes begin this week: The 51 Langford-to-UVic route will have its service level changed based on public feedback, BC Transit says, along with routes 24 (Cedar Hill/Tillicum Centre) and 46 (Dockyard/Westhills). The 49 will get new stops along Bear Mountain Parkway.

🏒 Victoria Grizzlies win first-round playoff hockey series 4-2: The Colwood club knocked out Coquitlam with a 5-1 win on the road in the only game this season between the rivals that was not won by the home team. Next opponent: Prince George or Chilliwack. [TriCityNews]

🍜 Ramen Arashi coming to Langford. The Victoria restaurant is opening a new location, its 6th overall, near the Y. The co-owner says that customers kept asking for a Westshore location—they'll soon get one twice the size of the Victoria version. [More]

🛣 Hwy 14 utility work: Pole setting began yesterday, causing single-lane alternating traffic from 9am to 3pm from Lazzar to Woodlands. [District]

🏫 Attend an open house on April 24 or 25 to discover how Glenlyon Norfolk School empowers students to be curious, engaged and prepared for the future.*

*Sponsored Listing

Community Events

🐇 Free Photos with the Easter Bunny: April 11-19 at Westshore Town Centre. Bring your own camera or phone; an attendant will be on hand to snap a family pic. [Info]

🎨 Echoes & Emblems student art show: Goldfinch Arts Centre (170 Goldfinch) in Colwood showcases work by Ecole Royal Bay Secondary students in Grades 9-12. April 17 to May 4.

🌿 Citizen's Environment Network in Colwood (CENiC) conversation series. 7-8pm online today, featuring Natural Assets Initiative and Native Plant Study Group. [Info]

🗓 Metchosin Community House events: Garage sales, art group, Spanish lessons, parents & tots group, movie nights, and more. [Calendar here—make sure page is in desktop mode]

👟 High Ground hike for community preparedness Thurs., April 17, at Sooke Flats. [District]

🎂 Cake Decoration Workshop: Flourish BeauTea in Langford hosts an artistic evening for learning new techniques & meeting fellow cake enthusiasts. [Weds. 6:15pm]

🤝 Candidate meet & greet: Cowichan–Malahat–Langford NDP, Liberal, & Green candidates on Fri. & Sat. [Details / schedule]

🚶‍♀️ Earth Day Ocean Art Walk & pollinators tour in Metchosin next Tuesday, April 22. Begins 11am at Metchosin Arts & Culture Centre, then gets to Sea Buffalo Farm at noon and continues to Witty's. Free & all ages.

🌍 Sooke Earth Day event April 26 on the greenspace beside Fire Station One. [District]

🥳 Sookarama: A family-friendly event with 90 exhibitors presented by the District of Sooke and Sooke Lions Club. April 26 at SEAPARC. [Info]

🤖 Expert discussion on AI & the future at Royal Roads with author and evolutionary biologist Dan Riskin on May 3. [Event info]

Council Meetings

View Royal: Council meets today at 7pm. [Agenda]

Colwood: A special meeting was cancelled last night but a regular meeting was held. April 22 will have meetings of environment, active transportation, and infrastructure committees. [Calendar]

Highlands: Non-public special council meeting today. Sustainable land use committee meeting tomorrow. Regular council meeting April 22. Calendar 

Sooke: Committee of the Whole meets April 22. (Next Tues.) [Schedule]

Langford: Council meeting April 22. [Calendar]

Metchosin: No meetings until April 28.

What’s Offshore?

🚢 Near Colwood coast: Bangkok Bridge, a 2010-built container ship sailing Tacoma to Vancouver under a Panama flag. 

🚢 Further out: GSL Grania, a 2004-built container ship sailing from Prince Rupert to Vancouver under a Liberia flag.

➡️ Moving on: ONE Majesty, a container ship built in 2010, sailing from Tacoma to Vancouver under a Marshall Islands flag 🇲🇭.

Westshore Snaps

Luke the Lab in Westhills, under the rainbow from a few weeks ago. – Heidi Koschzeck

That’s it!

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