reference to and map of Montreal is misleading .. when Prov govt dismembered the City and appeared to re - establish numerous small municplaites is really an illusion.. the restored municplalties were not given the same powers they originally had before amalgamation but their role and responsiblity were greatly curtialed and now only do a few local services.. the majority of real powers of municipal government ie; planning, police , transit, etc wer retained by a Metro government who have super powers and are not dependent on local approvals. So local councils are actually more like neighborhood councils than full municipal government.
in contrast here in greater Victoria the CRD can only assume and deliver a service only if each municpllaity agrees to it.. that why each municpllaity has their own have separate parks and rec. fire , police, works, garbage pickup , planning, zoning, building approvals .
.they only use the CRD to co-operate for water supply, land fill and recyling ,sewerage treatment and regional parks which they do reasonably well ..
It is not widely understood that the majority of the roles played by the CRD and agenda items for the CRD Bd are to provide service only to residents of unorganized areas ( i.e. JdF, East Sooke, Willis Pt , Port Renfrew ), Gulf Island and small municipalities ie Higlands, Metchosin,Sooke i.e fire protection, building inspections,, local landfill, .Panorama Rec, local parks ..The CRD has no authority over land use planning, emergency services, fire, police, transit, transportation, harbours, airport et al ..and that is why we have no co-ordinated plan to deal with housing , major roads or economic growth
Although there is some degree of intermunicipal cooperation for CREST, Library and Transit these are NOT done thru the CRD.
Understanding local government here in the CRD area and determining who is responsible for what is very confusing.. and very difficult to hold anyone accountable . and the mayors and councilors of 13 municipalities appear to like it that way.