8 replies to this topic

[UrbanRail]

Wasnt sure where to put this thread, but it is an interesting article from the following website.

http://realestateinfo.propertiesinvictoria.com/?p=158



Should Victoria Municipalities Amalgamate?
As you probably know The Greater Victoria Area has 13 municipalities, all with their own rules and regulations. There could be a lot of money saved if these municipalities amalgamated. A recent article by Gordon English with the Canadian Home Builders Association has some good points. The article reads:

What is municipal amalgamation? Amalgamation is the unification of municipalities to achieve goals like:

1. More effective regional planning
2. More consistent and efficient development and building processes throughout the region
3. The ability to embark on major infrastructure projects like Light Rail Transit

Better regional planning creates zoning for the future, protects environmentally sensitive areas, identifies areas of high and low density, and creates better infrastructure to support our population. Amalgamation would replace the 13 different administrative and political cultures that result in a three week wait for building permit approval in one municipality, and just a two day wait in another municipality located 15 minutes away. Municipalities’ processes differ, as do inspectors, rules and code interpretations. This significantly hinders housing affordability for consumers, which is a major hurdle in our region. A concern to all is the lack of federal funding to support initiatives like housing and improved regional infrastructure. Small municipalities simply don’t carry the weight necessary to impact decisions in Ottawa.

Why do we need these regional infrastructure projects?

One third of Canada’s population, or about 10 million people, will retire during the next fifteen years. Greater Victoria will be a primary destination, and we will require strong regional facilities to support the influx of retiring baby boomers. Housing will continue to expand in the West Shore and areas outside of Victoria’s downtown core, which will demand more efficient transportation systems, and a reduced reliance on cars.

In 1980, Calgary began building their Light Rail Transit system when they had a population similar to Greater Victoria’s today. At that time, they debated whether the population was sufficient to embark on such a project. Twenty-seven years later, Calgary has a population of about one million people, and they’re patting themselves on the back for having the foresight to build the LRT. The LRT was possible, partly because Calgary has a ward system - one form of municipal unification.

Communities like Oak Bay exist, but they exist together as part of a single municipal council, where their representatives must work on issues impacting the region.

Clearly, unified municipalities are more effective at addressing regional issues. It is time for Greater Victoria residents, community associations, and municipal / provincial politicians to agree that we owe it to future generations to plan responsibly - best accomplished by electing a single regional Council.

Gordon English is the president of The Canadian Home Builders’ Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to education, professionalism, consumer awareness, and housing affordability. Send your questions to info@chbavictoria.com End of Article.


We would love to hear your thoughts on amalgamation of Victoria Municipalities. Please drop us a note below. If you have any further questions about Victoria Real Estate in General, you can contact us anytime.

Cheers, Anders

Anders Treiberg, Associate Broker, REALTOR®Properties In Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage

Coast Capital Realty


Anders Treiberg has been a REALTOR® in

Victoria, BC. since 1990. He has extensive Real Estate Expertise and can be reached on his website http://www.PropertiesInVictoria.com

[G-Man]

I compleely agree with what they are saying but Calgary was still bigger than Victoria is now even way back in 1980. At least I am pretty sure it was.

[aastra]

It seems Calgary was around 560K in 1980, whereas Edmonton was at about 475K in 1978 when it adopted light rail.

[G-Man]

So once we add another 100 000 we are good to go!

[Ginger Snap]

I don't think complete amalgamation is realistic (can you really picture those from North Saanich agreeing to swim in the same pool as Langford, Victoria and Esquimalt?) but I think three municipalities is realistic - core, Westshore and Peninsula. I would jump for joy the day that the province legislates it. That's really what it will take... the municipal politicians aren't about to put themselves out of a job by putting amalgamation on the ballot.

[Mike K.]

Yup, I think most here would agree that a three-muni region is the way to go. Hell, even amalgamate lands south of Duncan into the westcomm muni since they're virtually one and same now.

[Nparker]

I don't think complete amalgamation is realistic (can you really picture those from North Saanich agreeing to swim in the same pool as Langford, Victoria and Esquimalt?) but I think three municipalities is realistic - core, Westshore and Peninsula. I would jump for joy the day that the province legislates it. That's really what it will take... the municipal politicians aren't about to put themselves out of a job by putting amalgamation on the ballot.

I agree completely. It will have to be FORCED on the capital region, but it must happen eventually -- and sooner rather than later.
1) Victoria, Esquimalt, Oak Bay & Saanich = the core (the new City of Victoria)
2) Central Saanich, North Saanich & Sidney = the peninsula (the new City of North Victoria)
3) View Royal, Colwood, Langford, Metchosin & the Highlands = the west shore (the new City of West Victoria)

Sooke can stay on its own or join West Victoria.

[Mike K.]

Interesting thoughts with the North and West Victoria names.

As for Sooke I'd group it in with the west. Langford and Sooke are growing ever closer as it is.

[davek]

I would like to see some evidence that other cities have more effective regional planning and more consistent and efficient development and build processes. I know no proof that cities with more centralized authority are any better than Victoria. Local control is a good thing.
Also, many arguments for centralization are based on putting in policy that increases the ability of one group to force its will on others, and all for the greater good. Beware these would-be social engineers.