Greater Victoria Amalgamation conversation
Times Colonist,
February 25, 2015
Riding on the momentum of election referendums that supported the study of some form of amalgamation, more than 100 people gathered Tuesday night to start that conversation.
The aim of the grassroots forum, called the Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project, was to discuss improved governance. Eight panellists spoke to issues and opportunities in areas such as transportation; emergency services; water, sewer and waste; social support; neighbourhoods, parks and recreation; and arts and culture.
“It’s our intention to harness the wisdom of our residents and that diversity of opinion — that’s where the best solutions are found,” said organizer Shellie Gudgeon, a former Victoria councillor.
Eight of the capital region’s 13 municipalities put an amalgamation question to voters in the November election.
Although the questions varied, about 75 per cent of people voted in support.
On Tuesday, Heather Gardiner and John Schmuck, both of Saanich, sat at one of almost 20 tables at S.J. Willis Education Centre.
Gardiner moved to the region three years ago and said she was “dismayed that there was so much duplication.” She lives near MacKenzie Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway and believes the traffic bottleneck in that area is due to a lack of co-ordination and co-operation on infrastructure and transportation.
“Everyone wants action [since the referendums], but that action wasn’t determined and defined,” Gardiner said. “Kudos to those who arranged this evening. At least someone is taking action.”
Schmuck said he is a concerned citizen interested in better governance. “Is the current system adequate? Not at all. But do we blow up the whole kit and caboodle? No.”
University of Victoria political scientist Janni Aragon, the keynote speaker, impressed upon the audience the importance of participation — be it meeting, joining, demonstrating, marching, voting, blogging, crowd-funding, or tweeting — in effecting change.
“The easiest way for us to make a difference is events like this,” Aragon said. “If we have this first conversation … teasing out what we believe, the government will pay attention.”
B.C. Premier Christy Clark has said she won’t force full-scale amalgamation in Greater Victoria, but would like to see more integration or amalgamation of services.
There was no mention of funding a regional amalgamation study in the provincial budget, but the Ministry of Community’s service plan said it would “support communities in assessing/changing local government structure by contributing to a shared understanding about the facts and implications of proposed restructuring.”
A statement from the ministry on Tuesday said it is “in the process of considering how best to proceed.”
“As the referenda questions were quite mixed, it is important for citizens that governments think broadly about governance and services in the region,” the statement said. “Knowing what conversations are occurring in the community and among local governments is an important part of these considerations.”
For more information, go to greatervictoriaconversation.ca.
[email protected]
© Copyright Times Colonist
Times Colonist,
February 25, 2015
Riding on the momentum of election referendums that supported the study of some form of amalgamation, more than 100 people gathered Tuesday night to start that conversation.
The aim of the grassroots forum, called the Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project, was to discuss improved governance. Eight panellists spoke to issues and opportunities in areas such as transportation; emergency services; water, sewer and waste; social support; neighbourhoods, parks and recreation; and arts and culture.
“It’s our intention to harness the wisdom of our residents and that diversity of opinion — that’s where the best solutions are found,” said organizer Shellie Gudgeon, a former Victoria councillor.
Eight of the capital region’s 13 municipalities put an amalgamation question to voters in the November election.
Although the questions varied, about 75 per cent of people voted in support.
On Tuesday, Heather Gardiner and John Schmuck, both of Saanich, sat at one of almost 20 tables at S.J. Willis Education Centre.
Gardiner moved to the region three years ago and said she was “dismayed that there was so much duplication.” She lives near MacKenzie Avenue and the Trans-Canada Highway and believes the traffic bottleneck in that area is due to a lack of co-ordination and co-operation on infrastructure and transportation.
“Everyone wants action [since the referendums], but that action wasn’t determined and defined,” Gardiner said. “Kudos to those who arranged this evening. At least someone is taking action.”
Schmuck said he is a concerned citizen interested in better governance. “Is the current system adequate? Not at all. But do we blow up the whole kit and caboodle? No.”
University of Victoria political scientist Janni Aragon, the keynote speaker, impressed upon the audience the importance of participation — be it meeting, joining, demonstrating, marching, voting, blogging, crowd-funding, or tweeting — in effecting change.
“The easiest way for us to make a difference is events like this,” Aragon said. “If we have this first conversation … teasing out what we believe, the government will pay attention.”
B.C. Premier Christy Clark has said she won’t force full-scale amalgamation in Greater Victoria, but would like to see more integration or amalgamation of services.
There was no mention of funding a regional amalgamation study in the provincial budget, but the Ministry of Community’s service plan said it would “support communities in assessing/changing local government structure by contributing to a shared understanding about the facts and implications of proposed restructuring.”
A statement from the ministry on Tuesday said it is “in the process of considering how best to proceed.”
“As the referenda questions were quite mixed, it is important for citizens that governments think broadly about governance and services in the region,” the statement said. “Knowing what conversations are occurring in the community and among local governments is an important part of these considerations.”
For more information, go to greatervictoriaconversation.ca.
[email protected]
© Copyright Times Colonist