Cowichan Valley Regional District · Mill Bay/Malahat
Candidate for Director — Mill Bay / Malahat Area A
Less is More.
Less taxes. More transparency.
My Platform
Nine practical priorities for Mill Bay / Malahat focused on responsible spending, infrastructure, transparency and strong community representation.
From the Campaign
Get the latest campaign updates, community events, videos, and conversations from Shane and the campaign.
Platform
Vote for me because I'll put residents first—not bureaucracy.
Vote for me because I bring both real experience and a fresh perspective. During COVID, I served as an Alternate Director at the CVRD and saw firsthand how decisions were being made and where accountability was lacking. As a small business owner, I understand the pressure families and local businesses face from rising taxes, regulations, and red tape. I'll fight for responsible spending, greater transparency, and policies that protect freedom, support residents, and keep our government focused on serving the community.
My slogan is simple: Less is More: Less taxes. More Transparency.
Property taxes have increased 40% in the last four years. I will fight out-of-control spending, demand accountability, and restore fiscal responsibility to the CVRD.
Budgetary Limits
As Alternate Director during COVID, I sat through the budget meetings and saw staff run circles around the directors. Directors need to set firm spending caps on new budgets.
Reduce Administration Overheads
The CVRD spends literally 10 times as much (20% vs 2%) as our neighbours the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN - not to be confused with the city of Nanaimo) on administration (management, consulting, etc.). The RDN has spent many years focused on reining in administrative overheads. If they can do it so can we.
Living on the Malahat Mountain, I understand first-hand the importance of proactive wildfire preparedness and protecting our watershed for long-term community safety. Protecting our forests and aquifers is critical to the future of Mill Bay/Malahat. We must invest in wildfire prevention, emergency preparedness, and responsible land management while safeguarding our drinking water sources. Smart planning today will help protect our communities, environment, and water security for future generations.
Improved transportation connections are essential for a growing community. While the CVRD doesn't directly administer it's roads or buses. I will fiercely advocate for better service and if needed go to the media when the Ministry of Transportation or BC Transit fail in their duties.
Bus Stops
I will advocate for bus stops for underserved communities such as the Spectacle Lake Mobile Home Park.
Pot Holes
We all know of potholes and road deficiencies that have gone unaddressed for far too long. I will advocate for timely repairs and hold the Ministry of Transportation accountable for maintaining safe roads in our community. I will work with community partners to find solutions and keep pressure on the Province to address long-standing infrastructure issues.
Snow Plowing
Getting to work, school, and medical appointments is not optional. I will push the Ministry of Transportation to better prepare for the winter weather events that occur every year.
Evening Meetings
I will push to move CVRD meetings back to the evenings, making them easier for residents to attend and participate in. CVRD meetings were held in the evenings until 2012, and many local governments, including the City of Victoria, continue to meet outside regular working hours.
A practical solution is to adjust the schedules of staff who must attend, avoiding overtime costs. Evening meetings would also make serving as a Director more accessible to working people without increasing Director compensation.
Everything On Youtube
Many CVRD meetings are not currently available on YouTube. I will push for all CVRD meetings, including Area Planning Committees, public input sessions, and workshops, to be recorded and published by default.
Making meetings publicly accessible is simple and inexpensive. Decisions that affect residents should be open, searchable, and easy to review. The public should not have to rely on rumours or second hand information to understand decisions that impact their community.
As an experienced entrepreneur, I will cut red tape to create opportunities for small businesses to ensure that our kids and young families have good local jobs here in Mill Bay/Malahat.
Streamlined Temporary Use Permits (TUP)
I will continue to push for a simpler, faster Temporary Use Permit process. Current CVRD procedures can take months or even years and cost small businesses thousands of dollars in fees. Temporary Use Permits help businesses such as short term rentals, food trucks, and daycares operate while rezoning is underway. Small businesses need a streamlined, affordable process that supports local entrepreneurship, not unnecessary red tape.
New development should benefit the existing community. That’s why I support a more transparent planning process.
I want to see up-front, transparent negotiations with developers and new businesses seeking rezoning, followed by meaningful community engagement within a few months—not several years into the process.
I believe the process should begin by working with the applicant to identify appropriate community amenity contributions that address the needs of the community. These could include upgraded water infrastructure, wildfire resilience, parks and trails, recreation facilities, or other improvements that provide a lasting benefit to local residents.
Once the initial proposal and amenity commitments are understood, the community should be brought into the process early. A public information session would give residents an opportunity to see what is being proposed, understand the potential costs and benefits, ask questions, and raise concerns while there is still time to make meaningful changes.
Development should be transparent, community-focused and collaborative—not a process where residents find out what is happening years after the decisions have already been made.
The Numbers Don't Lie
In the last four years, average property taxes in Mill Bay/Malahat have skyrocketed from roughly $3,950 in 2022 to nearly $5,800 in 2025. These increases are happening at twice the rate of inflation. That's an unacceptable burden on Mill Bay/Malahat families.
I bring the fiscal discipline and accountability needed to reverse this trend and fight for every dollar of taxpayer money.
Average Property Tax — Mill Bay
Source: CVRD Property Tax Data · Blue = Previous Director · Red = Last Four Years
Proven Results
As a previous Alternate Director for the Mill Bay/Malahat Area, I have already been hard at work for Mill Bay/Malahat residents. These are not just promises, they're results.
Alternate Director
Saved 50+ Jobs Fought to protect employment at Western Stevedoring, standing up for local workers when it counted.
Alternate Director
Malahat Skywalk Voted in favour of the Malahat Skywalk, supporting local economic development and tourism.
Alternate Director
Opposed Pay Hikes Voiced strong opposition and voted against CVRD Director pay increases during the pandemic, putting residents first.
Alternate Director
Questioned Spending Consistently challenged CVRD expenditures, demanding justification and accountability.
Mill Bay Community League President
5 Years of Service Raised thousands for the CMS Foodbank, the Francis Kelsey lunch program, and local community initiatives.
About Shane
Shane Ryan, 49, is a Malahat resident, small business owner, and former CVRD Alternate Director, who has spent years fighting for the people of Mill Bay/Malahat. He proudly announces his candidacy for Area Director A in the fall 2026 election.
Shane, his wife Christine, and their 11-year-old daughter Elizabeth live entirely off-grid in a solar powered home on the Malahat Mountain within the Mill Bay/Malahat riding. Both Shane and Christine are self-employed and deeply committed to this community.
Experienced entrepreneur has built and sold a successful business, previously in private sector finance, and currently operates a successful software consulting company.
Mill Bay Community League President for 5 years fundraising for the local food bank, Francis Kelsey school lunch programs, and affordable housing.
Family & Community
Shane Ryan has been President of the Mill Bay Community League for over 5 years. During Shane's tenure as Mill Bay Community League President, he has helped raise thousands of dollars for our local CMS Foodbank, the lunch program at Francis Kelsey, and is currently facilitating 52 units of affordable seniors housing on Mill Bay Community League land.
Shane Ryan's wife Christine, through her volunteer work has raised significant amounts of money for many important local causes, and their daughter Elizabeth is already contributing widely in community events.
Get Involved
Without your support none of these changes will happen. We invite you to reach out and learn more or volunteer in any number of ways including: putting up a yard sign, hosting a small meet-and-greet with Shane, sharing on your social media or getting out the word to friends and neighbours.
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"The primary job of the Area Director is to be a fierce advocate for the community. I will be that voice for all of us in Mill Bay/Malahat. "
— Shane Ryan