One of the most interesting amalgamations in Canadian history (Continued)
Common sense prevailed and in 1930, the two villages amalgamated into a single municipality, by joint Alberta and Saskatchewan Provincial Orders-in-Council. In 1958, the Town of Lloydminster received Charters from Alberta and Saskatchewan as the City of Lloydminster and became the 10th City in both Provinces.
From the City of Lloydminster website: http://ab-lloydminster.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=177
Early History
The Lloydminster area was first settled in April, 1903 with the arrival of the Barr Colonists, approximately 2,600 people from England. The new settlement was named in honour of Reverend Lloyd for his efforts in leading the colonists. The newly founded hamlet of Lloydminster was located astride the fourth Meridian in the Northwest Territories. When the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created in 1905 and the fourth Meridian selected as the inter-provincial boundary, the Village of Lloydminster was split in two. The Alberta portion of the divided community was incorporated as a Village in Alberta on July 6, 1906, while the Saskatchewan portion was incorporated as a Town in Saskatchewan in April, 1907.
Division and Amalgamation
This peculiar situation resulted in the duplication of all municipal functions such as the creation of two separate municipal councils, two municipal offices and two fire departments. Common sense prevailed and the two communities were amalgamated into a single municipality - the Town of Lloydminster, by an Order-in-Council of both provinces on May 20, 1930. On January 1, 1958 the Town of Lloydminster received its charter as the City of Lloydminster and became the tenth city in both provinces.
The Alberta City of Lloydminster Act
The Saskatchewan Lloydminster Charter
The joint charters, granted by both Provinces, spell out everything needed in order to allow Lloydminster to function as a single municipality, despite its cross boundary situation. The Charters stipulate which provincial acts do not apply in Lloydminster and which Provincial Acts do apply. The Charters define the unique arrangements under which the single City operates.
Compare that to our local situation. Oak Bay became a separate Municipality in 1906. The boundary between the City of Victoria and the District of Oak Bay, laid out at that time, has never changed. This includes the boundary south of Oak Bay Avenue, which runs in a straight line to Gonzales Hill, where it turns left 90 degrees to Foul Bay Road, then down Foul Bay Road to the waterfront.
As Oak Bay and Victoria spread out and infilled, 53 private properties became divided between the two municipalities. In some cases, a portion of someone’s yard is in both municipalities, in other cases a portion of private residences lies in both municipalities, with the consequence that different bylaws apply on different sides of a single property.
In the 110 years since Oak Bay became a separate municipality, this abnormality has never been addressed. In fact, owners of such properties get two assessments from BC Assessment and separate tax bills from each municipality. The assessments and taxes are based on the proportion of the property that is situated in each municipality. This is a poor example of inter municipal cooperation.
Lloydminster, situated in two provinces, took a common sense approach and became a single unit. This took the cooperation of two provincial governments and two municipalities, and is an excellent and unique example of problem solving for the common good.
- Colin Nielsen
Common sense prevailed and in 1930, the two villages amalgamated into a single municipality, by joint Alberta and Saskatchewan Provincial Orders-in-Council. In 1958, the Town of Lloydminster received Charters from Alberta and Saskatchewan as the City of Lloydminster and became the 10th City in both Provinces.
From the City of Lloydminster website: http://ab-lloydminster.civicplus.com/index.aspx?nid=177
Early History
The Lloydminster area was first settled in April, 1903 with the arrival of the Barr Colonists, approximately 2,600 people from England. The new settlement was named in honour of Reverend Lloyd for his efforts in leading the colonists. The newly founded hamlet of Lloydminster was located astride the fourth Meridian in the Northwest Territories. When the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were created in 1905 and the fourth Meridian selected as the inter-provincial boundary, the Village of Lloydminster was split in two. The Alberta portion of the divided community was incorporated as a Village in Alberta on July 6, 1906, while the Saskatchewan portion was incorporated as a Town in Saskatchewan in April, 1907.
Division and Amalgamation
This peculiar situation resulted in the duplication of all municipal functions such as the creation of two separate municipal councils, two municipal offices and two fire departments. Common sense prevailed and the two communities were amalgamated into a single municipality - the Town of Lloydminster, by an Order-in-Council of both provinces on May 20, 1930. On January 1, 1958 the Town of Lloydminster received its charter as the City of Lloydminster and became the tenth city in both provinces.
The Alberta City of Lloydminster Act
The Saskatchewan Lloydminster Charter
The joint charters, granted by both Provinces, spell out everything needed in order to allow Lloydminster to function as a single municipality, despite its cross boundary situation. The Charters stipulate which provincial acts do not apply in Lloydminster and which Provincial Acts do apply. The Charters define the unique arrangements under which the single City operates.
Compare that to our local situation. Oak Bay became a separate Municipality in 1906. The boundary between the City of Victoria and the District of Oak Bay, laid out at that time, has never changed. This includes the boundary south of Oak Bay Avenue, which runs in a straight line to Gonzales Hill, where it turns left 90 degrees to Foul Bay Road, then down Foul Bay Road to the waterfront.
As Oak Bay and Victoria spread out and infilled, 53 private properties became divided between the two municipalities. In some cases, a portion of someone’s yard is in both municipalities, in other cases a portion of private residences lies in both municipalities, with the consequence that different bylaws apply on different sides of a single property.
In the 110 years since Oak Bay became a separate municipality, this abnormality has never been addressed. In fact, owners of such properties get two assessments from BC Assessment and separate tax bills from each municipality. The assessments and taxes are based on the proportion of the property that is situated in each municipality. This is a poor example of inter municipal cooperation.
Lloydminster, situated in two provinces, took a common sense approach and became a single unit. This took the cooperation of two provincial governments and two municipalities, and is an excellent and unique example of problem solving for the common good.
- Colin Nielsen
