I would have no hesitation spending up to about $300 more for disc brakes for a bike around that price range. They make a very significant difference in the wet, which there is plenty of in Victoria. It's not critical to have discs (I ride with cantilevers in Vancouver, which is wetter still) but the difference is very noticeable in the rain, and you'll probably kick yourself later for not having them.
Don't forget to budget about another $400 on top of that for a rack, waterproof panniers, a rain jacket, rain pants, and rain booties - all of which make wet weather commuting a lot more pleasurable.
Depending where you buy, you may be able to acquire a commuter package that comes with a rack pre-installed.
You're definitely in the right price range for a commuter bike though. If you see something you love for a few hundred bucks more though, don't be afraid to shell out. You'll forget about the money by the end of the month, but if you have regrets about your purchase, you'll still feel that a year later.
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