2247 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Long Dug Dong is a character from the 16 Candles movie, in case anyone is perplexed by that reference.

[VIResident]

There are as many, and far more current papers, studies, etc. that refute all those links you just threw-up.

Amalgamation isn't going to be answered in this region as saving money or not until the amalgamation is forced and 10 years

down the road the information is compared - just like all of the Amalgamations that have happened in BC. 

[Nparker]

Our current governance model is broken. I am willing to try some form of amalgamation even if there is some added expense.

[Midnightly]

to me Amalgamation isn't just about saving money if that happens it's just a small reason for it.. to me Amalgamation would create less chaos and some more harmony around what we are dealing with now.. i feel the CRD is fractured with all these different municipalities that don't work together and Amalgamation would hopefully help with that

 

people in the westshore are pleading for some sort of light rail to get into downtown.. yet it has to cross through so many municipalities it will never happen

 

look at the whole bus passes issue.. you have people up in arms because they are frustrated one municipality gets something where another one does not yet the kids attend the same school

 

the plastic bag ban... you get charged 25c for a paper bag in Victoria yet you go a block away you can get a free plastic bag

Edited by Midnightly, 20 June 2019 - 02:15 PM.

[On the Level]

Our current governance model is broken. I am willing to try some form of amalgamation even if there is some added expense.

 

Agreed....I just don't believe it would be done because of "cost savings"

 

CoV residents enjoy commercial revenue that keep their property tax rates down, but this revenue would be watered down across the region.  Non union areas like Langord would be unionized.  Services like garbage pickup would most likely be standardized and offered to areas where it is not currently provided.

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[AllseeingEye]

to me Amalgamation isn't just about saving money if that happens it's just a small reason for it.. to me Amalgamation would create less chaos and some more harmony around what we are dealing with now.. i feel the CRD is fractured with all these different municipalities that don't work together and Amalgamation would hopefully help with that

 

people in the westshore are pleading for some sort of light rail to get into downtown.. yet it has to cross through so many municipalities it will never happen

 

look at the whole bus passes issue.. you have people up in arms because they are frustrated one municipality gets something where another one does not yet the kids attend the same school

 

the plastic bag ban... you get charged 25c for a paper bag in Victoria yet you go a block away you can get a free plastic bag

Precisely: and once some form of amalgamated CRD emerges - whatever that might look like - the rejuvenated and presumably streamlined political governance body could kick things off by ensuring the region has a freaking coherent transportation strategy - which is exactly the polar opposite of what we have now, thanks largely to 13 fiefdoms all running helter skelter in different directions and sticking their heads in the sand enacting at best patchwork solutions within their own boundaries, and seemingly hoping the larger transpo issues plaguing the south island, such as formulating a truly long range *regional* planning strategy designed to anticipate and mitigate gridlock, not to mention budgeting adequately for and then actually addressing the woefully insufficient roadway infrastructure, will somehow just 'go away'....

Edited by AllseeingEye, 20 June 2019 - 06:15 PM.

[On the Level]

I am just wondering with the campaign to rid Victoria of cars, do we need some sort of adjustment and segregation of the CRD to represent the population?  If the realistic movement of 2 thirds of the population is blocked, what is the recourse?

 

We have been here before.  The CRD needs to be split.  It doesn't represent the population.

 

https://www.saanichn...s-became-three/

[Nparker]

The City of Victoria and the District of Saanich have approved of joint terms of reference to form a citizens' assembly that will explore the costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamating the two municipalities..."The work of the citizens’ assembly needs to be free of interference by elected officials and lobbyist group," said [Saanich Mayor Fred] Haynes. "It’s important that the recommendations they will provide will be based on facts rather than emotions."

Good luck with that.

https://www.iheartra...lans-1.10513788

[Bernard]

I dream of them taking about facts.  The whole amalgamation process is constantly hijacked by emotions.   There are no significant facts that will indicate retaining the status quo makes any sense.

 

Honestly, I think the process will do everything it can to avoid actual facts 

[VIResident]

The region gets exactly what it deserves.  

[Bernard]

The region gets exactly what it deserves.  

I disagree, it gets what the entrenched interests and NIMBYs want, majority opinion is not considered

[VIResident]

I disagree, it gets what the entrenched interests and NIMBYs want, majority opinion is not considered

 

*coughahem* . It is considered at the voting booth.  

[VIResident]

The local empire building has emptied the pockets of all residents in this region and is on the brink of taking the few pennies that are left.  

 

Comment: It doesn’t make sense to build fire hall at new Esquimalt Town Square

"....I am not sure this duplication of services would be replicated anywhere else in Canada, and cannot think of anyone who would agree this is a smart, cost-effective use of emergency personnel or taxpayer money."  Tom Woods, MBA, is a retired firefighter and longtime Esquimalt resident who graduated from Esquimalt High in 1980.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...uare-1.24064347

[Bernard]

*coughahem* . It is considered at the voting booth.  

And the public in 2014 voted for amalgamation to move forward.   

[Stephen James]

*coughahem* . It is considered at the voting booth.  

this statement is delusional given:

1. voter turnout

2. we have slates here

[VIResident]

this statement is delusional given:

1. voter turnout

2. we have slates here

See comment 1 :  We get exactly what we deserve.  

[VIResident]

And the public in 2014 voted for amalgamation to move forward.   

and here we are, 2020 nothing much happening other than 'terms of reference'

[Bernard]

Which relates right back to my comment, this is not what we deserve, this is what is foisted on us by the entrenched interests and NIMBYs

Edited by Bernard, 30 January 2020 - 03:46 PM.

[VIResident]

Which relates right back to my comment, this is not what we deserve, this is what is foisted on us by the entrenched interests and NIMBYs

whom 'we' voted in! Look, the momentum was there in 2014 and politicians stood up left and right "I support the people!" Council members too....when they got elected immediately put heads in sand.  Okay, so along comes another 'election' rinse and repeat.  Just stupid.  

[Bernard]

whom 'we' voted in! Look, the momentum was there in 2014 and politicians stood up left and right "I support the people!" Council members too....when they got elected immediately put heads in sand.  Okay, so along comes another 'election' rinse and repeat.  Just stupid.  

The problem are the elected politicians, they are all elected with a mandate to maintain the status quo.  Amalgamation means that the vast majority of them would lose their power and their income.   It also means a lot of senior staff will lose their jobs.   These vested interests know the facts and know the public support amalgamation but are cowards and refuse to improve things for everyone.