Our summary of what Janice has said and done in public. Tap [source] on any line to check it yourself.
Supports
- Striving for zero annual property tax increases, using and focusing on needs not wants [source]
- Referendums on major capital projects (e.g. the public safety building) [source]
- Putting high density in new developments, and developing outside the existing boundary to get out of the flood plain onto higher ground [source]
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- Starting a land bank now (possibly via Crown land) for future employee housing and housing society projects, following Whistler's model [source]
- Attracting industry as an 'economic engine' that brings well-paid jobs and tax revenue [source]
- A downtown parking committee of stakeholders plus one councillor; using empty stalls in downtown residential buildings [source]
- Renegotiating the Woodfibre LNG 10-year tax agreement under a new council to get more money for Squamish [source]
- More openness: a regular 'Council Corner' newspaper column, all letters to council on the agenda, public meetings on land use, an independent committee for code-of-conduct complaints [source]
- An annual 'How are we doing?' questionnaire to residents [source]
Against
- High density in existing, long-established neighbourhoods that do not want it [source]
- The Woodfibre LNG 10-Year Agreement in Principle as negotiated ("That is not a good deal for Squamish") [source]
- The alternative approval process for borrowing, which she called "a joke", citing the public works building she says came in $19 million over budget [source]
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- Staff having too much authority ("Council have given Staff too much authority and council must take it back") [source]
- Further increases to District debt and continued property tax increases [source]
- Housing vulnerable seniors together with people with serious mental-health and substance-use disorders in the proposed Government Road project (2025 letter) [source]
Where Janice stands
Tap any topic to read more.
Growth & developmentBuild out (new neighbourhoods / )
Wants high density placed in new developments rather than in established neighbourhoods that do not want it, and supports development outside the current boundary to get off the flood plain onto higher ground. [source]
“High density should be in new developments and not in existing, long established neighbourhoods who do not want it. I believe in development outside of our existing in order to get outside of the flood plain and to higher ground.”
Well documented
Housing affordabilityLand bank for employee and housing-society housing (Whistler model)
Says Squamish has done the paperwork on affordable housing but barely delivered, and that zoning reform alone does not make anything affordable. Wants a land bank, possibly from Crown land, for employee housing, co-op style ownership and housing society projects, citing Whistler. [source]
“Zoning reform makes building possible, it doesn't make anything affordable. That takes land, covenants, and capital. And those are the three boxes still unticked in Squamish.”
Well documented
Homelessness & supportive housingOpposed mixing seniors with mental-health/addictions clients in the Government Road proposal
In a July 2025 letter she said she supports safe, affordable housing for people in need, including people experiencing homelessness, but called it a 'grave mistake' to house vulnerable seniors with people who may be actively struggling with serious mental-health and substance-use disorders, and argued addictions care needs specialized, secure facilities. No 2026 campaign statement on shelters or found. [source]
“This is not about NIMBYism. It's about responsible, evidence-based, and compassionate planning.”
Some evidence
Policing & community safetyHasn’t said
We could not find anything Janice has said publicly about this.
Taxes & spendingStrive for zero property tax increases; limit debt; referendums on big projects
Calls for spending discipline, , needs over wants, market value for District land sales, limits on new debt and referendums on major capital projects. Asked by the Chief what she would cut to reach zero, she said she was not sure yet and that an inventory of all spending was needed. [source]
“Annually, we should strive for zero increases in property taxes. Zero based budgeting can get us there.”
Well documented
Climate, environment & the LNG plantRenegotiate the WLNG tax deal for more money; sees WLNG as the town's only economic engine
Does not support the Woodfibre LNG 10-Year Agreement in Principle, saying more money could be negotiated and a new council should reset the relationship, while describing WLNG as currently Squamish's one and only economic engine that the town has to work with. Past volunteer on the Squamish Estuary Management Plan. No climate-policy statement found. [source]
“This should be done with a new council who does a reset on the relationship with WLNG.”
Well documented
Transportation & transitMore downtown parking options now; transit position to come
Says retail, medical-office and downtown employees need parking options immediately; would explore managing empty stalls in downtown residential buildings and on-street cafe stalls, via a stakeholder parking committee with one councillor. Lists transit as a key issue but has not yet published details. [source]
“Retail employees, medical offices, and downtown employees all need parking options immediately.”
Some evidence
Parking'Nowhere near enough parking spaces downtown'; wants bylaws to require adequate stalls for all housing, and a parking committee to look at angle parking, an employee lot and Loggers Lane
Parking is the first issue on her platform. She says high-density development has pushed residents' second cars onto the street and displaced downtown employees into the two-hour zones. Immediate steps: move restaurant patios off street stalls and ban food trucks from parking on Cleveland and Second between Victoria and Pemberton. She would strike a community Parking Committee to explore angle parking, a dedicated employee lot, angle parking on the old Loggers Lane rail bed and reopening side streets to parking, and task it with 'updating parking bylaws to require adequate stalls for all forms of housing — including suites' and investigating permit parking, pay parking and one-way streets. She also wants the one-stall-per-suite rule enforced. On a parkade: 'Maybe we don't need a parkade — but we do have to investigate all options first.' [source]
“There are nowhere near enough parking spaces downtown. High-density development has pushed residents with two vehicles onto the street, displacing the spots once used by downtown employees.”
Well documented
Jobs & local economyAttract industry as an 'economic engine'
Wants to attract industry that provides well-paid jobs and tax revenue, noting the loss of forestry and a living wage ($28/hr) far above minimum wage. Says retail and industrial tax rates are considerably higher than residential and push businesses to close. [source]
“I want to attract industry that will function as an 'economic engine', providing new jobs and attracting new business.”
Well documented
Janice’s own priority list
- Livability: housing and density, parking, recreation facilities, transit, safety, property taxes
- Affordability: help for workers earning below the living wage; attract an 'economic engine'
- Fiscal Responsibility: , strive for zero property tax increases, limit debt
- Accountability & Transparency: referendums on major capital projects, council taking authority back from staff
- A land bank for employee housing and housing society projects
More of Janice’s positions (1)
- Downtown Squamish needs more public parking, and the District should get it built.Somewhat agrees
Our reading of Janice’s public statements and votes — Janice has not answered our questionnaire.
About Janice
Long-time Squamish resident and volunteer whose family roots in town date to 1912; her grandfather Alex Munro founded the volunteer fire department and was its first chief. Seniors and long-term-care advocate: Vice Chair of the Vancouver Coastal Association of Family Councils, Co-Chair of the VCH Regional Resident & Family Councils, member of the Independent Long Term Care Councils Association of BC and the Seniors Aging at Home Community Network. Previously sat on the District's first tourism plan committee and with the Squamish Estuary Conservation Society on the Estuary Management Plan.
Where Janice leans on money, growth and LNG
Worked out from Janice’s public statements and votes — not a label they chose. See everyone side by side.
Sources we used (8)
- Janice DesJardins campaign website
- Janice DesJardins campaign website - About
- Squamish Chief: Janice DesJardins hones in on fiscal responsibility in her run for Squamish council (Sept 15, 2026)
- Squamish Reporter: DesJardins pitches zero tax increases in Squamish council bid (Sept 14, 2026)
- Squamish Chief letter: Resident raises concerns over mixed supportive housing plan (July 9, 2025)
- Squamish Reporter: 'It should be Alex Munro Fire Hall' (Aug 10, 2022)
- District of Squamish: 2026 Municipal Election Candidates
- On parking
Hear it from Janice directly
Are you Janice DesJardins, or did you spot a mistake? Email squamishvoters@gmail.com to update or add to this page. How corrections work.