Amalgamation study support is substantial

Times Colonist Letters
June 5, 2015 


Re: “No mandate for area-wide amalgamation study,” May 31.

There is no mandate not to study governance or amalgamation.

In the recent comment on amalgamation, Prof. Jim McDavid says there isn’t a clear mandate to study amalgamation in this region, as all the questions posed by municipalities were varied.

True, but these questions were posed when amalgamation was being discussed in the media, at council and Capital Regional District meetings, in an Angus Reid poll, in petitions and on the streets.

There was an opportunity for politicians to bring clarity to the situation but many, in their wisdom, chose to resist, deny and confuse.

Nonetheless, voters overwhelming said yes to the only question they were allowed to vote on, leaving spectators, proponents and opponents to subsequently debate what was really being said. At the very least, many voters said let’s take a look.

The province has agreed to lead a study. Some municipalities have written to the province: Victoria, Esquimalt, Colwood, Metchosin, North Saanich, Central Saanich and Sidney. Langford has committed to communicate, Saanich has agreed in principle and Oak Bay will consider a participation motion soon.

What is right for us in this area? Thirteen municipalities and a CRD or some other form of government? There have been successful amalgamations in B.C., including Abbotsford/Matsqui, Kelowna and Kamloops. Is that what we need to do? Who knows, unless we take a serious look?

The public were never asked if they didn’t want to study governance or amalgamation in this region. All indicators suggest that the public hinted overwhelming, as they were only allowed to do in November 2014, that a study should proceed.

Tony Heemskerk

Saanich



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