144 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

New reports out from SIPP. Liked some of the assessments they have made:

 

There is a high level of latent ambition in the Victoria region, underpinned by high civic trust and goodwill and a commitment to shared prosperity. Current elected city leadership is viewed to be effective, bold and consensus-oriented. There is growing confidence in Greater Victoria’s capability and competence, abetted by recent figures that it is one of the fastest recovering regions in the world from COVID-19. Many recognise the chance to stake a leadership role in larger arenas, as Greater Victoria heads towards a population of 500,000.

 

The soft leadership roles of Business do not appear to be sufficiently developed. Business is too remote from much of the political leadership. There is not currently enough impetus within the Chamber of Commerce

 

Research & Publications - South Island Prosperity Partnership

 

So in other words the business community is useless but thanks to Mayor Helps we have managed to survive. All we need to do now is found our Ocean Hub, give more money to universities (and other SIPP supporters), get rid of cars and we will all be fine. (note this is my sarcasm not worded that way in the report).

[Nparker]

...Current elected city leadership is viewed to be effective, bold and consensus-oriented...

How was the author of the SIPP report even able to type such an obvious lie?

[Victoria Watcher]

what a swamp.

[spanky123]

How was the author of the SIPP report even able to type such an obvious lie?

 

In 2019 (last year data is available), the CoV provided $218K in grants to SIPP.

[Mike K.]

They haven't provided data for 2020?

[spanky123]

They haven't provided data for 2020?

 

Comes out in July for the previous year. It is part of the financial statements. There was likely some approval at some council meeting for the package of grants but I didn't have the time to go digging.

[Rex Waverly]

New reports out from SIPP. Liked some of the assessments they have made:

 

There is a high level of latent ambition in the Victoria region, underpinned by high civic trust and goodwill and a commitment to shared prosperity. Current elected city leadership is viewed to be effective, bold and consensus-oriented. There is growing confidence in Greater Victoria’s capability and competence, abetted by recent figures that it is one of the fastest recovering regions in the world from COVID-19. Many recognise the chance to stake a leadership role in larger arenas, as Greater Victoria heads towards a population of 500,000.

 

The soft leadership roles of Business do not appear to be sufficiently developed. Business is too remote from much of the political leadership. There is not currently enough impetus within the Chamber of Commerce

 

Research & Publications - South Island Prosperity Partnership

 

So in other words the business community is useless but thanks to Mayor Helps we have managed to survive. All we need to do now is found our Ocean Hub, give more money to universities (and other SIPP supporters), get rid of cars and we will all be fine. (note this is my sarcasm not worded that way in the report).

 

Pretty obvious in the above quote that it's referring to Greater Victoria, not just the City of Victoria itself.  Even if you're not a fan of Helps and company, she's one of 13 mayors.  

[Mike K.]

It should read “current elected regional leadership,” or “municipal leadership.” City leadership implies the City of Victoria. Esquimalt is a township, Saanich and Oak Bay are districts. The cities of Colwood and Langford (Langford not a part of SIPP) are typically removed from the “city” narrative and referred to as a suburban market or just as West Shore.

Right now civic leadership is at odds all across the region. You have Saanich backing away from amalgamation, you have unions concerned over Victoria’s handling of HR in light of dangers to workers, Oak Bay is unhappy with Victoria over Richmond Street and Mayor Helps’ assertion the Oak Bay Lodge should have been temporary housing, and Esquimalt is unhappy over policing costs stemming from a shared force with Victoria.

View Royal meanwhile doesn’t want any other jurisdiction to get a casino and Langford is facing major political pressures that could change how it develops post-2022, and Sooke is moving full steam ahead on becoming the next Langford, with business closely watching.

We need a little more meat from SIPP so guys like me can align with what we’re seeing down on the ground, and hearing from the people calling the shots. Because the last thing we need is another CMHC scenario where the information coming out of what is viewed as a credible, sincere and well connected resource is at total odds with the real-world scenario.

[spanky123]

Pretty obvious in the above quote that it's referring to Greater Victoria, not just the City of Victoria itself.  Even if you're not a fan of Helps and company, she's one of 13 mayors.  

 

I think that if you read the context of the report it is clear that they are focusing on the CoV. The report uses the population of the region as a rationale for selecting its comparison cities, but the vast majority of issues it highlights are related primarily to the core.

[Rex Waverly]

I think that if you read the context of the report it is clear that they are focusing on the CoV. The report uses the population of the region as a rationale for selecting its comparison cities, but the vast majority of issues it highlights are related primarily to the core.

 

Even just reading sentences directly following the quote you included, it actually makes it much more clear it's talking about the region, not the city. I've copied the first few paragraphs in full below; the bolded sentence is immediately after where your quote ended. 

 

(Edit: bolding is not for emphasis, just to show where the quote continues)

------

 

From the BOC report 3, page 11 (found here: https://southislandp...OC-Report-3.pdf):

 

 

There is a high level of latent ambition in the Victoria region, underpinned by high civic trust and goodwill and a commitment to shared prosperity. Current elected city leadership is viewed to be effective, bold and consensus-oriented. There is growing confidence in Greater Victoria’s capability and competence, abetted by recent figures that it is one of the fastest recovering regions in the world from COVID-19. Many recognise the chance to stake a leadership role in larger arenas, as Greater Victoria heads towards a population of 500,000. But the overall impression is that leadership is disjointed and the ambition not fully calibrated. Greater Victoria has been unable to decisively decide what the priority should be. Ocean innovation can be a catalyst around which the region can build.

 

Initially, Greater Victoria’s positioning can be led by the City of Victoria, and many regions have begun their journey with visionary core city leadership and a persistent City voice for the region. Over time however, small regions need conducive metropolitan governance to achieve the scale of reach and investment. Currently metropolitan governance is missing in Greater Victoria. The 13 municipalities that make up the region (plus the Capital Regional District Board) are not co-ordinated, and there is no natural forum or guiding mind for the region. There has been very slow progress with reforms to local government or the possible creation of a directly elected regional council. Inter-municipal competition for resources remains strong. The result is Greater Victoria does not easily mobilise higher levels of government around a common proposition and better ensure key decisions about regional priorities and investments are evaluated through a global lens.

Edited by Rex Waverly, 02 June 2021 - 11:14 AM.

[Mike K.]

Are these claims contrary to each other, or complementary?:

 

Current elected city leadership is viewed to be effective, bold and consensus-oriented. ...But the overall impression is that leadership is disjointed and the ambition not fully calibrated.

[Jackerbie]

I think they're separate claims, so complementary.

City leadership is viewed one way. The disjointedness comes at the regional level, for example the ways that Victoria, Saanich, and Oak Bay are upgrading their mobility networks.

[Mike K.]

What can we expect from SIPP in 2022?

[spanky123]

^ More great powerpoints and glowing support for City hall and their other funders.

[Victoria Watcher]

South Island Prosperity Partnership wins 3 global awards for COVID economic response

 

https://www.vicnews....nomic-response/

 

Conglomerate’s 2 gold, 1 silver won for innovation, special events, education partnerships

 

 

The majority - not all - of the economic hardship from the pandemic was created by government.  It's a bit perverse to be handing out awards to government-funded entities for "solving" the problem they mostly created.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 January 2022 - 04:24 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

^ More great powerpoints and glowing support for City hall and their other funders.

 

And awards!   That nobody has ever heard of.  To try to validate their existence.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 January 2022 - 04:25 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Awards that you have to pay to enter, of course.  

 

https://www.iedconli...g/pages/awards/

 

 

So it's one big circle jerk using my tax money.

 

 

[Nparker]

...It's a bit perverse to be handing out awards to government-funded entities for "solving" the problem they mostly created

Lisa Helps did this when she bestowed the court house lawn squatters with a mayor's award several years ago.

[rjag]

Has anyone figured out what benefit SIPP has actually delivered to the region? Its really looking like it only specializes in generating material to promote itself. 

 

I've been involved in a few Ec Dev style Boards over the years and always find that Govt run ones are all about increasing their own funding and an excuse to go on junkets. 

 

This outfit would be worthy of an audit. 

[Stephen James]

New reports out from SIPP. Liked some of the assessments they have made:

 

There is a high level of latent ambition in the Victoria region, underpinned by high civic trust and goodwill and a commitment to shared prosperity. Current elected city leadership is viewed to be effective, bold and consensus-oriented. There is growing confidence in Greater Victoria’s capability and competence, abetted by recent figures that it is one of the fastest recovering regions in the world from COVID-19. Many recognise the chance to stake a leadership role in larger arenas, as Greater Victoria heads towards a population of 500,000.

 

The soft leadership roles of Business do not appear to be sufficiently developed. Business is too remote from much of the political leadership. There is not currently enough impetus within the Chamber of Commerce

 

Research & Publications - South Island Prosperity Partnership

 

So in other words the business community is useless but thanks to Mayor Helps we have managed to survive. All we need to do now is found our Ocean Hub, give more money to universities (and other SIPP supporters), get rid of cars and we will all be fine. (note this is my sarcasm not worded that way in the report).

This is easy to explain by anyone who has attended a SIPP meeting that included M Helps, lol. SIPP does what Helps wants. (full stop)

 

At worst, SIPP = CoV/Helps marketing arm. Interpret accordingly.

 

At best, SIPP = ?

Edited by Taco, 23 January 2022 - 10:26 AM.