Current legislation allows for amalgamation
Times Colonist letters
September 7, 2014
The push for a vote on some “unknown” form of amalgamation continues.
There is no need for every municipality in the Capital Regional District to answer the ambiguous question (Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?) on a referendum with no parameters. Citizens should know that provincial legislation already allows for any municipalities to amalgamate should they want to.
The government cannot, under current legislation, force any amalgamation. However, that same current legislation says that if a vote has been taken in accordance with Section 8 of the Local Government Act separately in each of the existing municipalities, and for each of those municipalities, more than 50 per cent of the votes counted as valid favour the proposed incorporation, the amalgamation could proceed.
Simple then — municipalities, individually and with their potential willing partners, can study the reams of research available on amalgamation. Then, if a group of citizens or politicians can get the support of more than 50 per cent of the voters of each of the municipalities choosing to amalgamate, it can be done.
In other words, the impetus must come from the citizens of individual municipalities on a clear question (Do the citizens of A want to amalgamate with B and does B want to amalgamate with A?)
The proposed referendum has an unclear question that does not further the debate nor is the referendum necessary given current legislation.
Mona Brash
North Saanich
Times Colonist letters
September 7, 2014
The push for a vote on some “unknown” form of amalgamation continues.
There is no need for every municipality in the Capital Regional District to answer the ambiguous question (Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?) on a referendum with no parameters. Citizens should know that provincial legislation already allows for any municipalities to amalgamate should they want to.
The government cannot, under current legislation, force any amalgamation. However, that same current legislation says that if a vote has been taken in accordance with Section 8 of the Local Government Act separately in each of the existing municipalities, and for each of those municipalities, more than 50 per cent of the votes counted as valid favour the proposed incorporation, the amalgamation could proceed.
Simple then — municipalities, individually and with their potential willing partners, can study the reams of research available on amalgamation. Then, if a group of citizens or politicians can get the support of more than 50 per cent of the voters of each of the municipalities choosing to amalgamate, it can be done.
In other words, the impetus must come from the citizens of individual municipalities on a clear question (Do the citizens of A want to amalgamate with B and does B want to amalgamate with A?)
The proposed referendum has an unclear question that does not further the debate nor is the referendum necessary given current legislation.
Mona Brash
North Saanich
