2288 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

The asphalt at Ship Point is likely pretty safe too.

[lanforod]

Ignoring the oddity of the old town quote, I see no reasons whatsoever for Saanich to want to amalgamate with Victoria. There does not seem to be any upside to that for Saanich.

[Nparker]

Witnessing the increasingly woke-ish direction Saanich appears to be heading in since the last civic election, I'm not sure there's an upside for Victoria either if it were to amalgamate with its neighbour to the north.

Edited by Nparker, 07 July 2023 - 06:41 AM.

[Harry]

A few years back Helps was asked about amalgamation with Saanich her reply was " It would be great we could do so much with the larger tax base" That says it all .

[Victoria Watcher]

The City of Victoria and District of Saanich have taken the next step in their study of potential amalgamation.

 

A citizens assembly to study the potential municipal amalgamation was approved in 2018 following a referendum.

 

However, planning efforts were stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Earlier this year, the two municipalities said the study was back on the table, with a 48-person citizens’ assembly to research the potential benefits and drawbacks of amalgamation.

 

 

 

https://www.cheknews...mation-1176063/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 November 2023 - 05:37 AM.

[Barrrister]

I cannot imagine why Saanich would think amalgamation would be a benefit?

[Mike K.]

They’ve amalgamated with three other planets already, apparently.

[sebberry]

I cannot imagine why Saanich would think amalgamation would be a benefit?

 

Have you seen the Together Victoria wannabes on Saanich Council? 

[Victoria Watcher]

The senior city staff said they’re concerned the work of the Citizens’ Assembly could be skewed without accurate and meaningful information to inform its deliberations.

 

The letter also pointed out the report asserts that information in it was validated by the municipalities, which suggests the City of Victoria is in agreement with the information as presented.

 

“This inference is not correct. We stress that the report, as drafted, will misinform the Citizens’ Assembly and the public, and risks undermining the important work of the Citizens’ Assembly to date,” Jenkyns and Thompson wrote.

 

Victoria staff took issue with the use of expenses per capita or revenue per capita in comparisons with Saanich, noting that failed to reflect the depth of services delivered in an urban environment compared with Saanich, which is largely suburban and rural.

 

“The significant increased population of users-of-service in the City of Victoria are not included in a per capita formula, which results in an overstatement of the expense and demands per resident in [Victoria],” they said.

 

The letter also points out that with close to 50 per cent of the District of Saanich’s land area composed of Agricultural Land Reserve and land outside the Urban Containment Boundary, Saanich will not expand sewer, water and stormwater services.

 

At the same time, all residents of Victoria are provided with those services and the related operating and capital costs to maintain and upgrade the services.

 

Other complaints included failing to mention services that Victoria provides and Saanich doesn’t, comparisons of departments that are inaccurate, such as omitting bylaw services in Victoria’s corporate study — bylaw has a $3.7-million budget and is overseen by the city manager — and overstatement of the parks and recreation budget.

 

“These are just a few examples of our concerns with both MNP’s methodology and the content of the report as drafted,” the Victoria staffers said. “We are committed to supporting the Citizens’ Assembly by ensuring it has contextually accurate information for informed deliberations and decisions.”

 

 

https://www.timescol...report-10239908

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 05:52 AM.

[Sparky]

The whole idea of having MNP guide the citizens assembly Is to NOT be guided by biased city or municipal officials.

The “we do this and they don’t do that” mentality is exactly why we have 13 political jurisdictions in the CRD.

And to be honest, a lot of us seem to like it that way.

[Victoria Watcher]

My thoughts too.

[Sparky]

“We have spent hundreds of hours reviewing the report and providing corrections and outlining concerns to MNP related to information that is missing, incorrect or lacking context. Despite our efforts, our concerns have not been adequately addressed by MNP,” the letter states.

Thank goodness for that. Did you do all this during working hours?

[Victoria Watcher]

It's only 157 pages.  

 

Saanich is a great place, why would anyone there want to foul it by being associated with Victoria?

[Barrister]

The City of Victoria is the hot bed of druggies (as witnessed by the per capita overdose rates) and wants to spin the report so that the cities overspending on that and so much else is not exposed.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria staff took issue with the use of expenses per capita or revenue per capita in comparisons with Saanich, noting that failed to reflect the depth of services delivered in an urban environment compared with Saanich, which is largely suburban and rural.

 

 

Victoria literally could not find 3 people to work overnight at the warning centre, 2 days in a row last week, so they just simply closed it.

 

What kind of "depth" is that?

 

Now, I'm not in favour of "warming centres" to begin with, but if you decide you are going to operate one, at least give us some indication of your competence in doing so.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 February 2025 - 08:22 AM.

[Barrister]

Our Place alone has over a hundred paid staff who are absolutely "committed" to helping the street people (and collecting a good salary) and they could not find a few volunteers amongst all these woke and concerned advocates? 

[Victoria Watcher]

SOLID has 100+ too.

[Barrister]

Or maybe the city councilors could have shown up since they dont seem to do much useful for their pay.

[Sparky]

The draft technical study that includes the CoV letter of disapproval is available for download here. https://www.victoria...technical-study

 

The outcome of this dog and pony show will affect a great many people. We need to keep an eye on this.

[Mike K.]

Don’t forget the CRD’s transportation authority that is headed for an AAP.

Do you want the CRD deciding how your road is used, Sparky, or Saanich?