As beautiful as Vancouver might have been, my recollection is that Victoria made it look like a dump. But, would I be right in guessing the politics are pretty similar (liberal)? How much does the island do to insulate you from the pestilence and vermin?
Um, I think in order to make it high up the list, the city had to have employment and recreational opportunities (for residents, not tourists).
P.S. Wife's parents live in Victoria... it's a small, sleepy, retirement town with little-to-nothing to do besides a handful of tourist attractions that you could complete in less than half a week.
"As beautiful as Vancouver might have been, my recollection is that Victoria made it look like a dump. But, would I be right in guessing the politics are pretty similar (liberal)? How much does the island do to insulate you from the pestilence and vermin?"
Victoria is the provincial capital city -- typical of capital cities, there tends to be a generally positive view about bigger government. (The tax money funnels into the area from everywhere else.)
BTW -- our provincial government is nominally "Liberal" -- but is actually an aliance of conservatives and moderates (left and right). The opposition New Democratic Party are avowed socialists.