2 Focus Magazine Letters, March 2016
Amalgamation
It always amazes me when, amidst the plethora of governments and structures and dysfunction that is the Capital Region, there are those who plead to retain the status quo when it comes to municipal governance.
What’s worse are those old, tired, poorly investigated charges of amalgamation being something to avoid like the plague, propped up by folklore, academic bias, misinformation and ignorance. Such is the case with your columnist Gene Miller’s January article on the A-word.
Mr Miller (“The Plumber’s Dilemma,” January 2016) highlights a Toronto Star article suggesting that the forced amalgamations by the Harris Government in Ontario in the 1990s didn’t “save money.” If I said to Greater Victoria residents, “You could have a region with strong, vibrant neighbourhoods, a sewage system, a regional police and fire service, a governing transportation authority, a cohesive waste disposal program, enhanced social equity for our impoverished, cost sharing for large infrastructure projects and one-stop shopping for economic investment, but you wouldn’t save money,” would you take advantage of it?
While creating tremendous efficiencies in how we operate, amalgamations don’t generally save money in terms of lower taxes. But don’t be fooled that that represents a lack of success. Halifax, Nova Scotia comes to mind. The forced amalgamation was not welcomed by those communities and Halifax experienced a protracted and costly period of unification. So where is amalgamated Halifax today? Twenty years after amalgamation the city’s debt is about $250 million, almost where it was in 1996 and that’s after two decades of inflation. Halifax’s debt servicing stands at 6 percent, which is the envy of the Nova Scotia government whose debt servicing is 15 percent. Meanwhile, Halifax enjoys a regional police and fire service, a sewage system, one transportation department, one waste disposal program, one-stop shopping for regional economic investment, and the list goes on. Halifax is in such great financial shape that the city recently added $10 million to its strategic infrastructure reserve.
I would further draw Mr Miller’s attention to the Fraser Institute’s review of those Ontario amalgamations. Would he be surprised to know that all the communities reviewed by the Fraser Institute have considered their amalgamations to be successful? Success could present a broad range of community implications—the point being there is much more to an elephant that noting a level of psoriasis on its skin. When you consider the efficiencies of modern day Halifax compared to a fragmented Greater Victoria the difference is night and day!
Amalgamation governance reviews are not unusual in Canada. One was completed this past fall showing significant benefit, whereby seven municipalities in Atlantic Canada are now moving forward with their amalgamation discussions. On the same coast, the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities, citing strong community benefits from past amalgamations, are introducing an amalgamation tool kit to assist those communities considering amalgamation.
Amalgamation Yes has no stated position on the level of amalgamation. All we have ever sought is to have a regional study, so why the fear? With last fall’s Angus Reid survey showing just 7 percent regional support for 13 municipalities followed by a 75 percent positive vote for a governance review, what in the world is wrong with supporting such a review?
When I think of amalgamation, I think of a regional transportation without 13 traffic directors. I think of being able to assist the poor and lessen the disproportionate share of wealth amongst our municipalities. I think of the Victoria region being represented in the caucus of big city mayors to discuss infrastructure support, homelessness and other urban issues. I think of safer communities where police, like criminals, don’t pay attention to municipal property lines, and a greater community that understands that yes, even deer don’t pay attention to those municipal lines. I think of regional arts funding where municipalities can no longer turn their backs on paying their share of arts support, particularly when their own residents’ participation is funded by others. I think of a strong, united region.
To refuse an amalgamation review based on scare tactics and misplaced academic agendas will not succeed. It will only harden public resolve to see democracy respected and fulfilled
John Vickers, Amalgamation Yes
It always amazes me when, amidst the plethora of governments and structures and dysfunction that is the Capital Region, there are those who plead to retain the status quo when it comes to municipal governance.
What’s worse are those old, tired, poorly investigated charges of amalgamation being something to avoid like the plague, propped up by folklore, academic bias, misinformation and ignorance. Such is the case with your columnist Gene Miller’s January article on the A-word.
Mr Miller (“The Plumber’s Dilemma,” January 2016) highlights a Toronto Star article suggesting that the forced amalgamations by the Harris Government in Ontario in the 1990s didn’t “save money.” If I said to Greater Victoria residents, “You could have a region with strong, vibrant neighbourhoods, a sewage system, a regional police and fire service, a governing transportation authority, a cohesive waste disposal program, enhanced social equity for our impoverished, cost sharing for large infrastructure projects and one-stop shopping for economic investment, but you wouldn’t save money,” would you take advantage of it?
While creating tremendous efficiencies in how we operate, amalgamations don’t generally save money in terms of lower taxes. But don’t be fooled that that represents a lack of success. Halifax, Nova Scotia comes to mind. The forced amalgamation was not welcomed by those communities and Halifax experienced a protracted and costly period of unification. So where is amalgamated Halifax today? Twenty years after amalgamation the city’s debt is about $250 million, almost where it was in 1996 and that’s after two decades of inflation. Halifax’s debt servicing stands at 6 percent, which is the envy of the Nova Scotia government whose debt servicing is 15 percent. Meanwhile, Halifax enjoys a regional police and fire service, a sewage system, one transportation department, one waste disposal program, one-stop shopping for regional economic investment, and the list goes on. Halifax is in such great financial shape that the city recently added $10 million to its strategic infrastructure reserve.
I would further draw Mr Miller’s attention to the Fraser Institute’s review of those Ontario amalgamations. Would he be surprised to know that all the communities reviewed by the Fraser Institute have considered their amalgamations to be successful? Success could present a broad range of community implications—the point being there is much more to an elephant that noting a level of psoriasis on its skin. When you consider the efficiencies of modern day Halifax compared to a fragmented Greater Victoria the difference is night and day!
Amalgamation governance reviews are not unusual in Canada. One was completed this past fall showing significant benefit, whereby seven municipalities in Atlantic Canada are now moving forward with their amalgamation discussions. On the same coast, the Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities, citing strong community benefits from past amalgamations, are introducing an amalgamation tool kit to assist those communities considering amalgamation.
Amalgamation Yes has no stated position on the level of amalgamation. All we have ever sought is to have a regional study, so why the fear? With last fall’s Angus Reid survey showing just 7 percent regional support for 13 municipalities followed by a 75 percent positive vote for a governance review, what in the world is wrong with supporting such a review?
When I think of amalgamation, I think of a regional transportation without 13 traffic directors. I think of being able to assist the poor and lessen the disproportionate share of wealth amongst our municipalities. I think of the Victoria region being represented in the caucus of big city mayors to discuss infrastructure support, homelessness and other urban issues. I think of safer communities where police, like criminals, don’t pay attention to municipal property lines, and a greater community that understands that yes, even deer don’t pay attention to those municipal lines. I think of regional arts funding where municipalities can no longer turn their backs on paying their share of arts support, particularly when their own residents’ participation is funded by others. I think of a strong, united region.
To refuse an amalgamation review based on scare tactics and misplaced academic agendas will not succeed. It will only harden public resolve to see democracy respected and fulfilled
John Vickers, Amalgamation Yes
