11779 replies to this topic

[Ismo07]

They at least have a vested interest in the CoV. Perhaps business owners should be allowed to vote in the jurisdiction in which they own.

 

Yeah we've discussed that before but then you have chains, corporations etc.  You'd have to really somehow pare it down to mom and pop shops etc.  Like I've said before business owners do have much more sway than a single resident already, likely more valuable than a vote.  It's and interesting change to the legislation.

[Nparker]

If there is no need to have a vested interest in a municipality to represent its residents, perhaps people should be able to vote in the jurisdiction of their choosing. Why should anyone be bound by the consequences of the decisions they make?

[Ismo07]

If there is no need to have a vested interest in a municipality to represent its residents, perhaps people should be able to vote in the jurisdiction of their choosing. Why should anyone be bound by the consequences of the decisions they make?

 

Well I won't answer that one but I'll pose this, if voters in Nelson really like me and want me to be a councillor there (remotely) they should have that opportunity shouldn't they?

[Nparker]

...if voters in Nelson really like me and want me to be a councillor there (remotely) they should have that opportunity shouldn't they?

Sure, why not? Why should voting rules be any different from representational rules? 

[Victoria Watcher]

Sure, why not? Why should voting rules be any different from representational rules? 

 

how about CoV voters just smarten up and refuse to elect non-resident councilors?  that's always a voter's choice.  i doubt if loveday lived in nelson many here would vote for him.

[Nparker]

how about CoV voters just smarten up and refuse to elect non-resident councilors?  that's always a voter's choice. 

I doubt most voters ever know where candidates reside. Out-of-jurisdiction candidates don't advertise the fact much.
 

[spanky123]

I doubt most voters ever know where candidates reside. Out-of-jurisdiction candidates don't advertise the fact much.
 

 

The address is on the candidate registration form which is public. Not hard at all.

 

That was how folks realized that Stephanie Hardman didn't live on Richardson when she said she did.

Edited by spanky123, 23 October 2020 - 09:14 AM.

[Nparker]

The address is on the candidate registration form which is public. Not hard at all.

And how many voters see the candidate registration form?

[rjag]

How about a business owner in Victoria who lives in Sidney?

 

Yup, that business owner pays a significantly higher proportion of taxes compared to a resident and has zero say about what goes on in the municipality. I agree, give the business owner a voice and give them a vote with a weighting proportionate to the taxes they pay!!!

[JohnsonStBridge]

The fact that councillors outside of the municipality are elected speaks to how much City operations impact residents of surrounding municipalities whether as business owners or shared services. A City of Victoria resident could very easily operate a business in Saanich, utilize the recreation centre in Oak Bay, and have a rental property in Esquimalt. The users of municipal services do not always have a vote over what impacts them and there are some valid considerations if non-residents with skin in the game should be eligible for election or to vote.

 

At the end of the day I think this is indicative of a bigger issue (amalgamation) and whether voters should have a municipal government that reflects how many residents use municipal services outside of their municipality of residence.

[Mike K.]

Yeah we've discussed that before but then you have chains, corporations etc.  You'd have to really somehow pare it down to mom and pop shops etc.  Like I've said before business owners do have much more sway than a single resident already, likely more valuable than a vote.  It's and interesting change to the legislation.

 

99% of business are corporations.

 

And why do you want to deny a chain the opportunity to engage in civic affairs in which it pays massive property taxes? I think anyone or any corporation, chain or otherwise, who/that operates a business in Victoria and is licensed by the municipality to do so, but does not reside within the municipality, should have the option to vote.

[Ismo07]

Yup, that business owner pays a significantly higher proportion of taxes compared to a resident and has zero say about what goes on in the municipality. I agree, give the business owner a voice and give them a vote with a weighting proportionate to the taxes they pay!!!

 

As I've mentioned, businesses have tons of pull, more than a single vote by a resident.

 

99% of business are corporations.

 

And why do you want to deny a chain the opportunity to engage in civic affairs in which it pays massive property taxes? I think anyone or any corporation, chain or otherwise, who/that operates a business in Victoria and is licensed by the municipality to do so, but does not reside within the municipality, should have the option to vote.

 

I don't believe that most of those corporations would have the community at heart.  They have enough pull without a vote.  If you took away their ability of the aforementioned pull then sure.  We've gone over this, what about a business owner who lives in Victoria, would she get 2 votes as a resident and business owner?  Does every owner get a vote?  What if you have 3 7-11s or 5 subways, do they each get a vote?  What if you own two separate businesses?  How about your a plumber with an inter-municipal permit to work in each municipality, do you vote everywhere?  There are many other things to iron out, can't just say let the businesses vote and draw a line.

[Mike K.]

All things that can be easily worked out.

[Ismo07]

All things that can be easily worked out.

if it was easy it would get done.  This is a provincial matter and I'm not sure how many residents want McDonalds voting on their Mayor and Council so...  Not easy in the slightest.

[Nparker]

...I'm not sure how many residents want McDonalds voting on their Mayor and Council so...

No worse than the cheese heads, hamburglars and grimaces that elected the current council.

[On the Level]

 

Initiating a governance review was one of my election promises in 2018. I have collated many of the governance issues that have arisen over the past 6 years and I'm proposing a process to address these issues in time for the municipal election in 2022. 

 

I agree with many of the points you have on your list Jeremy, but my concern is the authority of the review and who will be making recommendations.  What are the findings being based from?

 

There already is the Local Government Legislative Framework in place so this could be used to confirm that local governance is, or is not, fulfilling it's legal requirements.  It could also be used to judge if council is providing services as intended by the act.

 

 

To balance the broad powers provided to local governments, the Community Charter contains accountability and public participation provisions, such as:

 

Elector approval processes

Annual municipal reporting

Ethical conduct rules for elected officials

 

 

the Local Government Act also apply to municipalities for matters not covered by the Community Charter (for example, municipal tax sales).

 

The Local Government Act also covers important authorities for both municipalities and regional districts, such as planning and land use powers and statutory requirements for administering elections.

 

Does the CoV understand where it might not be following the act?  Are there areas where council is skirting the rules?  For example, the significant number of in-camera meetings?  

 

I would not be comfortable with a review unless it is being conducted by a 3rd party not related to business undertaken by council.

[Nparker]

...I would not be comfortable with a review unless it is being conducted by a 3rd party not related to business undertaken by council.

This.

[Tom Braybrook]

^

the cuff report

 

https://www.georgecuff.com/

 

did the last review in Victoria and has done many others - i know a fella who saw him do one back east 

[Mike K.]

if it was easy it would get done. This is a provincial matter and I'm not sure how many residents want McDonalds voting on their Mayor and Council so... Not easy in the slightest.

It’s political.

As for McDonald’s, the local guy who bought and operates the franchise just might want to. Why does he get less of a voice in your world than the guy running Big Wheel? The only difference between their operations are suppliers and guidelines.

But like I said above, a corporation operating a business locally but which is not based within the CRD would be exempt, unless it’s franchised. So Eddie Bauer downtown wouldn’t get a vote, but the local guy licensed to operate the View and Douglas McDonald’s would.

[marks_28]

It could lead to a dangerous precedent. Essentially saying business interests' are equal to those of a city's residents. If the local guy lives in Langford, but operates the McDonalds downtown, he's likely only voting with his business hat on. The mayor and council represent their residents, not their businesses. That is what the DVBA and others are for. Also, like Ismo said, maybe he owns five franchises. Does he get five votes?