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Amalgamation of Victoria municipalities


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#2141 Stephen James

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Posted 31 January 2020 - 10:17 AM

See comment 1 :  We get exactly what we deserve.  

...?

as far as I can tell, the slate was imposed on us by the NDP.

how are we deserving of that?



#2142 aastra

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Posted 31 January 2020 - 10:55 AM

 

The City of Victoria has on its radar the construction of a new fire hall on the west side of the two bridges...

 

Did we know about that? On which site?

 

So after our hypothetical mega earthquake we're now saying Vic West/Esquimalt will have enviable access to fire/medical services?

 

It seems like only a few years have passed since the JSB-replacement saga, and all of that associated fear **rn re: Vic West being completely cut off from said services after the big one.



#2143 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 06:15 PM

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said she felt as though ‘the rug was pulled out from under her’ upon learning the mayor of Saanich wants to halt movement towards amalgamation.

Helps’ remarks came Thursday afternoon during her daily COVID-19 press briefing. She said she had only learned of mayor’s change of heart 30 minutes prior.

“I’m still digesting it,” Helps said. “I was under the impression that Saanich and Victoria had committed to a process that was mandated by both of our voters in the last election.”

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes is calling for a “cease and desist” on the Citizen’s Assembly exploring amalgamation of Saanich and Victoria. Haynes asked council to write a letter informing the City of Victoria and the province of the District’s choice to stop work on the Citizen’s Assembly “until further notice” and reallocate the $250,000 assembly budget.

Helps said she was surprised by the turn of events.

 

https://www.vicnews....-mayors-report/



#2144 Tom Braybrook

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 06:22 PM

 

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said she felt as though ‘the rug was pulled out from under her’ upon learning the mayor of Saanich wants to halt movement towards amalgamation.

Helps’ remarks came Thursday afternoon during her daily COVID-19 press briefing. She said she had only learned of mayor’s change of heart 30 minutes prior.

“I’m still digesting it,” Helps said. “I was under the impression that Saanich and Victoria had committed to a process that was mandated by both of our voters in the last election.”

Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes is calling for a “cease and desist” on the Citizen’s Assembly exploring amalgamation of Saanich and Victoria. Haynes asked council to write a letter informing the City of Victoria and the province of the District’s choice to stop work on the Citizen’s Assembly “until further notice” and reallocate the $250,000 assembly budget.

Helps said she was surprised by the turn of events.

 

https://www.vicnews....-mayors-report/

 

why would she be surprised...only an idiot would want to amalgamate with the mess she has turned the cov into...


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#2145 rmpeers

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Posted 16 April 2020 - 10:43 PM

"I just can't understand why anyone wouldn't want to amalgamate with the city that Ben, Jeremy and I have systematically destroyed bit by bit over the last 5 years."
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#2146 Mike K.

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:06 AM

I was just saying the other day how the province should mandate the CRD's 13 municipalities shrink in light of COVID's economic impacts and the need for all sectors of society to find cost savings moving forward (i.e, we don't need seven police chiefs for 400,000 people).

 

However, Saanich pulling out from an official study exploring amalgamation with Victoria is not merely a symptom of re-allocating the $250,000 Saanich had budgeted to more pressing needs, but no doubt a strong message to Victoria that their approach to governance isn't working and is no longer compatible with the governance expectations of neighbouring municipalities.


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#2147 Nparker

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:19 AM

Saanich pulling out from an official study exploring amalgamation with Victoria is...no doubt a strong message to Victoria that their approach to governance isn't working and is no longer compatible with the governance expectations of neighbouring municipalities.

In her heart-of-hearts - although she'd never admit this publicly - Her Worseship must understand this has to be Saanich's reasoning.


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#2148 Mike K.

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:23 AM

I would imagine the Mayor's opinion on the decision would be more along the lines of Saanich not being dedicated enough to face the challenges of big city leadership head-on, and to confront those challenges with social action underpinned by progressive values that seek to rebuild the trust among society's most vulnerable towards their elected officials and their social agendas. 


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#2149 Mike K.

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:26 AM

One thing to note is the timing of the Saanich announcement, right before the start of Helps' daily presser.


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#2150 Nparker

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:30 AM

I would imagine the Mayor's opinion on the decision would be more along the lines of Saanich not being dedicated enough to face the challenges of big city leadership head-on, and to confront those challenges with social action underpinned by progressive values that seek to rebuild the trust among society's most vulnerable towards their elected officials and their social agendas. 

I am sure something like that would be/will be her public response but at some point even she has to accept that she is the one marching out of step and not the other 12 constituent parts of the CRD. While she's certainly a fraud and an opportunist, she will always look out for #1 and If things really start to go against her she'll bail for greener pastures.


Edited by Nparker, 17 April 2020 - 07:31 AM.

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#2151 On the Level

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:40 AM

I'm not so sure she really cares.  Other than a few groups at UVIC, the constituents she cares about are limited to downtown streets.  What does amalgamation have to interest her other than a larger base that opposes her?



#2152 Nparker

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:42 AM

She cares only in so far as it furthers her future political/career goals.


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#2153 Mike K.

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 07:48 AM

Wouldn't it be something if Saanich caught a whiff of the province looking at amalgamation seriously, and having already started down the road of discussing the issue with Victoria, Haynes quickly put the brakes on it and backed out in the event Horgan saw the upcoming citizens assembly as a good fit for making the first move on amalgamation.


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#2154 Casual Kev

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 08:40 PM

Horgan should pull a Mike-Harris-but-sensible and just amalgamate the core municipalities. Spare the CoV from being stuck with progressive careerists and actually start planning with the region in mind, rather than the current focus on defending little fiefdoms, niche causes and political careers. Would we even need double-digit councilors to adequately represent the core?


Edited by Casual Kev, 17 April 2020 - 08:40 PM.

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#2155 On the Level

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Posted 17 April 2020 - 08:51 PM

I can understand that if you live downtown, you want to amalgamate.  If you don't, you don't.  Am I right?


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#2156 VIResident

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Posted 18 April 2020 - 05:31 AM

why would she be surprised...only an idiot would want to amalgamate with the mess she has turned the cov into...

 

THIS ^ is exactly 

 

His Worship, Mayor of Saanich,  understands, people right now, are saying and even reading right here on VV:

 

"OH NO! We don't want to amalgamate with that!" as if that Mayor, that Council will be in power for the next 100 years. 

 

Slippery. 

 

No wonder Langford wants nothing to do with Saanich or Victoria and Sooke wants no part of any of ya. j/k

 

;)

 

Set aside the individuals, look at the governance in place, look at the benefits/non, compare other governance models, look at those benefits/non, look at balancing, blending, etc. etc.

 

We do not review the past 50 Mayors and Councils and current day and say "Gee, nope. Yah, no, no no" 



#2157 Mike K.

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Posted 18 April 2020 - 07:04 AM

I can understand that if you live downtown, you want to amalgamate. If you don't, you don't. Am I right?

That’s the general sentiment. But there was certainly more appetite for amalgamation by Saanich residents prior to 2014, with nearly 90% in support. In 2018 support plummeted to 56%. In 2022, the way things are going, I doubt there’ll even be a desire to have the conversation.

Haynes is hearing every day from constituents fearful of what an amalgamation scenario might entail.
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#2158 Sparky

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Posted 18 April 2020 - 07:08 AM

Personally I am not a fan of amalgamation.

Having said that, it might be the only way to wrestle control of downtown out of the hands of the morbid socialists.
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#2159 Spy Black

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Posted 18 April 2020 - 07:26 AM

...it might be the only way to wrestle control of downtown out of the hands of the morbid socialists.

Even though residents of Victoria could do that quite handily on their own, they still choose to sit at home on election day and let the few thousand organized voters make that decision for them.

I don't understand why they rinse, repeat ... rinse, repeat ... over and over again for the same political outcome.

 

Maybe I've just been living in Saanich too long and I'm completely out of touch with why Victoria voters choose the living room couch on election day.


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#2160 Mike K.

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Posted 18 April 2020 - 08:33 AM

Up until 2018 the voter turnout was largely more conservative/stay the course, but Helps’ way of doing business clearly galvanized a contingent further to the left than the classic NDP style of left that is considered centrist for these parts.

2014 had Madoff, Young, Coleman, T-J, Alto and Lucas. 2018 saw three moderates replaced by the TV slate.

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