11794 replies to this topic

[Hotel Mike]

The down side of a ward system is the balkanization of areas of the city. Each Councillor, say the Fairfield or James Bay rep, would have to show his local electors that he or she is fighting for their neighbourhood. Such Councillor may vote against something good for the city as a whole, because it might not be popular in their area. Broad visions become somewhat eclipsed by the narrowing of perspective.

[Nparker]

...Broad visions become somewhat eclipsed by the narrowing of perspective.

And which of the current crop on Council has a broad vision about what is important to the majority of CoV residents under the current system?

[VIResident]

The down side of a ward system is the balkanization of areas of the city. Each Councillor, say the Fairfield or James Bay rep, would have to show his local electors that he or she is fighting for their neighbourhood. Such Councillor may vote against something good for the city as a whole, because it might not be popular in their area. Broad visions become somewhat eclipsed by the narrowing of perspective.

Currently happening right now, right here.  For example, Victoria policing and Esquimalt policing, right?  

Esquimalt said no to to additional policing and look what happened.

(Esquimalt, a very small community, muni gov demonstrates an example of empire building like no other - disgusting.  Should have been amalgamated and become a ward - would have cost the taxpayer far less with improved service!).

[Mike K.]

^don't forget two CoV councillors are Esquimalt residents.

[FogPub]

Count me as generally not in favour of a ward system; or at most only a partial ward system (e.g. 4 councillors are elected by wards and the other 4 are area-wide as now).  As it stands now, I as a voter (in theory) have a say in the makeup of the whole council; with a ward system I'd only have a say on the mayor and 1 councillor out of 8.

[Nparker]

...As it stands now, I as a voter (in theory) have a say in the makeup of the whole council...

At least now I know who to blame for the mess we have.

[Stephen James]

Count me as generally not in favour of a ward system; or at most only a partial ward system (e.g. 4 councillors are elected by wards and the other 4 are area-wide as now).  As it stands now, I as a voter (in theory) have a say in the makeup of the whole council; with a ward system I'd only have a say on the mayor and 1 councillor out of 8.

 

this is also the popular NDP argument because they like to elect slates.  they are not in favour of the ward system because it would make their influence more difficult. 

[FogPub]

this is also the popular NDP argument because they like to elect slates.  they are not in favour of the ward system because it would make their influence more difficult. 

Puts me in the minority as usual, I suppose; as while I want to be able to vote for all 8 council positions I also generally don't like slates or civic parties.  I'd rather pick and choose individual candidates based on their platforms and-or takes on various issues.

[Sparky]

I often wonder how the ward system would affect candidates that do not live in the municipality.

[Stephen James]

I often wonder how the ward system would affect candidates that do not live in the municipality.

 

In my experience in Ontario, the subject is more relevant to voters and used by candidates against each other when it's true.  So if that's important to you, the ward system is an improvement.

[VIResident]

Count me as generally not in favour of a ward system; or at most only a partial ward system (e.g. 4 councillors are elected by wards and the other 4 are area-wide as now).  As it stands now, I as a voter (in theory) have a say in the makeup of the whole council; with a ward system I'd only have a say on the mayor and 1 councillor out of 8.

You must have a huge issue with the CRD, the largest org. in the region that outspends them all (combined?) ?  Non-elected and you have zero say no matter what municipality you live in.  

Edited by VIResident, 30 August 2019 - 04:16 AM.

[Hotel Mike]

Let's not forget that the NDP tried to get their fingers on the Victoria municipal scene starting back in 1990. They formed the Victoria Civic Electors as a farm team party. Local voters were very reluctant to accept that model. If anything, the NDP learned that they can accomplish the same thing by using ad hoc groups, like the slate that brought in the young, unknown group of Councillors last time.

[Coreyburger]

You must have a huge issue with the CRD, the largest org. in the region that outspends them all (combined?) ?  Non-elected and you have zero say no matter what municipality you live in.  

 

CRD is not the largest org in the region. Budget size goes Saanich --> Victoria --> CRD (pretty certain, both Victoria and CRD are around ~$200 million yearly budget)

[spanky123]

Council hard at work again next week. https://pub-victoria...English&Item=30

 

Motion for Mayor Helps to attend the UN Secretary's Climate Action summit in NY next month at a cost of nearly $4K. In case you are wondering, our carbon footprint woke Mayor has already blown through her travel budget for the entire year.

[Nparker]

And still Lisa's Trump-like supporters will fall all over themselves in supporting this hypocrite. 

[Mike K.]

And still Lisa's Trump-like supporters will fall all over themselves in supporting this hypocrite. 

 

She has Trump-like supporters? As in, thousands of Trump-lookalikes, and/or individuals who share his personality traits?

[Nparker]

As in they follow her blindly no matter how her actions are in direct opposition to their best interests.

Edited by Nparker, 31 August 2019 - 11:24 AM.

[Midnightly]

she doesn't need to attend every climate action conference being offered... even if she thinks she's an expert on the topic...

 

she needs to remember she is the mayor of a relatively small city of under 100k people.. a city with true real issues beyond climate issues...

 

personally i'd have no issues with her attending this if she spend her own money to attend it... but when she is spending city money again and again for something that is not a priority for the city (and comes back with some grand idea she sees and wants to change the city..like shutting down government street after her Europe climate crisis conference), and goes beyond her limited travel budget... it's damn irritating as a city of victoria tax payer

[Mike K.]

Many who voted for the mayor feel it is crucial that she attend these meetings, and they believe during a climate crisis the costs do not outweigh the importance of her presence there.

[Midnightly]

Many who voted for the mayor feel it is crucial that she attend these meetings, and they believe during a climate crisis the costs do not outweigh the importance of her presence there.

 

it would be if her job was directly based on climate crisis, but it isn't... her job is to run a city... not be a climate crisis expert... if she wants to be a climate crisis expert (and i do think that is her future goal) she should be doing it on her own dime, and not pretending that it's part of the job as being mayor of a small city of under 100k people, which also has a housing crisis, a homeless crisis, an addiction crisis, and dare i add a policing crisis... yet i don't see her jumping to go to conferences based on any of those (not trying to give her more excuses for travel mind you)