2247 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

Funny thing about neighbourhoods: when a municipal boundary cuts a neighbourhood down the middle it's really just an administrative effort to dissociate the people who live on one side of the street from the people who live on the other. In reality those people live in and share the very same neighbourhood. But the unamalgamated municipal governments don't see it that way.

 

Look at Cadboro Bay Village for example.  Would anywhere care if that was in Oak Bay, rather than Saanich?

 

Cadboro Bay threatens to secede over Saanich’s ecological bylaw

 

 

http://www.timescolo...bylaw-1.2111408

[aastra]

It would be funny if they start a trend with that. Cadboro Bay ends up belonging to Oak Bay, Fairfield ends up belonging to Saanich, the Uplands ends up belonging to Langford, etc.

[VicHockeyFan]

It would be funny if they start a trend with that. Cadboro Bay ends up belonging to Oak Bay, Fairfield ends up belonging to Saanich, the Uplands ends up belonging to Langford, etc.

 

Take a look at a map of how View Royal, Highlands, Saanich and Langford all fit together, it's a little puzzling.

[Nparker]

Take a look at a map of how View Royal, Highlands, Saanich and Langford all fit together, it's a little puzzling.

Perhaps it was the inspiration for the Douglas/Yates crosswalks.

[tedward]

It would be funny if they start a trend with that. Cadboro Bay ends up belonging to Oak Bay...

 

Maybe I can start a petition to make "Bays United" a political reality by joining James to Oak.

Edited by tedward, 25 October 2016 - 02:22 PM.

[aastra]

We need to amalgamate all of the bays. Royal Bay, Brentwood Bay, Cordova Bay... just think how much extra energy I wasted typing the word "Bay" that many times. Not to mention the wear and tear on my keyboard.

[Nparker]

We need to amalgamate all of the bays. Royal Bay, Brentwood Bay, Cordova Bay...

As long as James Bay is part of this deal and they become some other municipality's "auto-NIMBY" I am 100% in favour of this.

[SusanJones]

The final report of the Salt Spring Island Incorporation Study Committee reveals island property owners can expect “no overall tax impact” if islanders were to opt for incorporation.

“In the ‘apples to apples’ analysis and using 2016 constant-dollar analysis, the current tax rates could be maintained even after Year 5 once a transition period has been completed,” reads part of the Salt Spring Island Incorporation Study Final Report.

http://gulfislandsdr...t/#.WBPkI-ErKAw

 

The actual study is here: http://www.ssiincorporationstudy.com/

[SusanJones]

Well we are no further ahead since the poll by Angus Reid just prior to the last municipal election, just prior to Mayor Lisa Helps & others signing memorandum that they would respect the referendum vote if they were voted in.  Mayor Helps and others were voted in and no study but there is a new poll today & numbers are not fantastic for the Mayor of Victoria, and a big sign for other Mayors and Councils.   

 

We do have a new and current poll, pretty much the same as the last in terms of approval for amalgamation study.

Article is here:  

http://www.timescolo...uncil-1.2741405

Amalgamation Yes - referendum results here:

http://www.amalgamat...ot-results.html

 

Politicians best get on with what the people voted for:  a study about amalgamation in our Region.  

Attached Images

• 

Edited by SusanJones, 15 November 2016 - 09:08 AM.

[Nparker]

No existing CRD government is going to be proactive on amalgamation unless they are forced to be.

[nagel]

No existing CRD government is going to be proactive on amalgamation unless they are forced to be.

Yeah.  The beef should be with the province in not actively pursuing this.

[SusanJones]

Yeah.  The beef should be with the province in not actively pursuing this.

Actually, if each of the Mayors had sent a letter to the Province requesting an independent study specific to Greater Victoria region, pros/cons of amalgamation, immediately after the last election and based on the referendum vote, we would have our completed study today.  The Province could have then decided what part it could play in assistance for example bridge gap agreements in areas where one muni has more infrastructure investment required than another, easing in of mill rate adjustments etc.  The study could also have been used for the public engagement, that likely could be under way now and finally a binding referendum vote for the next municipal election in 2018.  

Instead we saw local politicians at the past UBCM put forward a motion that the Province not force any amalgamation.  

The community charter already outlines very clearly no forced amalgamation, there was no need for the motion or vote - it was passed unanimously by UBCM members. 

[SusanJones]

Amalgamation study is what the people want - to bad local politicians didn't take the election results and send that letter to Prov. gov. asking for the study.  But then, who believes polls these days.  

What do you think?  

Amalgamation study is what people want or were the non-binding referendum results and this poll 2 years later incorrect?

 

Today's Times Colonist:

"........The survey revealed support among Saanich residents for the province taking a serious look at amalgamation: 71 per cent said the province should review the issue of amalgamation, versus 19 per cent saying it should not. Ten per cent were unsure.

".....The question on amalgamation posed by the Times Colonist was clearer than the one on Saanich’s ballot in the municipal election.The Times Colonist survey asked: “In your opinion, should the provincial government review the issue of amalgamation in the Capital Regional District, including its advantages and disadvantages?”

In the 2014 election, 88.5 per cent of Saanich residents voted yes when asked: “Do you support council initiating a community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and our partnerships within the region?”

Atwell said he would be surprised if amalgamation were not “heavily debated” in next year’s provincial election. “Hopefully, the province will advance toward a fulsome study because as a rapidly growing region we simply cannot continue to talk endlessly about it without facts to debate.” 

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.8Nvnz79Z.dpuf

[SusanJones]

I am certain Mayor Atwell would have a chuckle to read his counterparts comments on Facebook however he's not likely to read the page that this post came from.  

As for 'bias' here is a link to a letter that several hope-to-be Mayors & Councillors signed stating they would uphold the referendum results IF they were voted in.  

This particular Councillor, who signed it, has since changed her mind and no longer supports a study.  

http://www.amalgamat...tal-region.html

 

 

 

 

Attached Images

• 

[Lover Fighter]

I'm not sure if this is the right thread for this, but the Provincially-funded "Capital Integrated Services & Governance Initiative" is doing some public engagement via placespeak:

https://www.placespe...tive/#/overview

 

Of course, this study inconceivably leaves out any form of amalgamation as an option, so its entire purpose as a governance study is pretty much dead.  I know the Province wants the amalgamation question to go away, but this seems like a poorly planned response.  I think they would have been better off including all governance options in their study, and then they could have had some legs to stand on when considering calls for amalgamation.  Currently, the door is left wide open for continued interest in amalgamation with this sham "governance" study.

[SusanJones]

This first by a 20 year old Victorian attending Queens University -  http://www.timescolo...ebate-1.3579256

"only real takeaway is the highly enlightened idea that “everyone needs to work together.” 

 

followed up by this:

(local politician & comments about the above) 

Women Politicians Must Encourage Not Disparage Women in Politics

http://news.yyjchat.ca/#!headlines

 

Then this 

http://www.theglobea...rticle30024087/

A Vancouver councillor is trending — and not in a good way — after Twitter war

Edited by SusanJones, 02 December 2016 - 04:01 PM.

[SusanJones]

Just in, media release from City of Victoria - http://news.yyjchat....ca/#!headlines 

Victoria Wants Accurate Data in Regional Governance Study

 

 

[spanky123]

 

Just in, media release from City of Victoria - http://news.yyjchat....ca/#!headlines 

Victoria Wants Accurate Data in Regional Governance Study

 

 

 

 

That is interesting. I thought that there was such as thing as generally accepted accounting rules for municipalities and that financial statements were audited annually. If Helps is suggesting that Victoria doesn't follow GAAR and reports differently then other munis then I think that we have a much larger issue.

Edited by spanky123, 02 December 2016 - 07:53 PM.

[Bingo]

Victoria needs to finish their bridge, but don't worry about that as it should be on time and over under budget. 

We also would like some help building a new #1 Fire Hall as the present one could fall down in an earthquake.

Oh! and the Point Ellice Bridge is needing repairs because it could fall down in an earthquake and it carries the # 1 water main into the city.

And not to discourage you, Victoria wants to build a new swimming pool because they don't want to rely on their neighbours pools just across the border.

This will come in handy if the new #1 Fire Hall runs out of water because they couldn't afford to fix the Point Ellice Bridge that carries the water main

I won't even mention sewage, or Victoria's homeless problem, because we have practically solved all of that.

 

So how would you like to amalgamate with us and share in the costs? Your tax increase will be negligible, in fact so negligible we will even provide the kleenex.

Oh and by the way you will have to walk, take the bus or ride your bicycle because we won't have a parking space for your vehicle...providing you still want to come. 

 

 

[SusanJones]

Well written.  What isn't well written are the comments in reply to this by local politicians and their supporters - see Facebook, real eyeopener.

How not to engage and how too discourage youth 101.  

http://www.timescolo...ebate-1.3579256

Isabella Gudgeon: Report adds little to amalgamation debate Isabella Gudgeon / Times Colonist

DECEMBER 2, 2016 12:49 AM

- See more at: http://www.timescolo...h.ALuNbMMA.dpuf

 

The C.D. Howe Institute recently weighed in on the Capital Regional District’s long-standing amalgamation conversation with its new publication, Thinking Regionally: How to Improve Service Delivery in Canada’s Cities. It rejects amalgamation in favour of increased voluntary “inter-municipal co-operation.”

But although an anticipated game-changer in the debate, the Ontario-based paper ultimately boils down to a set of weak suggestions that sound charming, but lack teeth.

The conversation surrounding this regional structure is a deeply complex one, involving questions on both sides of not only economic efficiency, but also identity, democratic equity and financial fairness.

The report, on the other hand, is extremely simplistic. Between lovely sounding buzzwords and vast generalizations, its only real takeaway is the highly enlightened idea that “everyone needs to work together.”