From: Minister, CSCD CSCD:EX <CSCD.minister@gov.bc.ca>
Date: Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 11:34 AM
Subject: Ref. #165287: Meeting with Mayors regarding governance in the capital region
To: Tony Heemskerk
Cc: "kwilliams@highlands.ca" <kwilliams@highlands.ca>, "mayor@colwood.ca" <mayor@colwood.ca>, "jranns@metchosin.ca" <jranns@metchosin.ca>, "afinall@northsaanich.ca" <afinall@northsaanich.ca>, "oakbaymayor@oakbay.ca" <oakbaymayor@oakbay.ca>, "mayor@saanich.ca" <mayor@saanich.ca>, "slprice@sidney.ca" <slprice@sidney.ca>, "lhelps@victoria.ca" <lhelps@victoria.ca>, "mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca" <mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca>, "mtait@sooke.ca" <mtait@sooke.ca>, "Dawes, Jacquie CSCD:EX" <Jacquie.Dawes@gov.bc.ca>
Ref: 165287
Mr. Tony Heemskerk
Chair
Amalgamation Yes
Dear Mr. Heemskerk:
Thank you for your previous emails and recommendations regarding a study on governance in the Greater Victoria region.
I appreciate the contributions that Amalgamation Yes brings to this discussion, including comments at the recent Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Since my address to the Chamber, I have met with local mayors to hear their thoughts on governance and services in the Capital region. Understanding these views is an important first step in exploring opportunities for improved integration of services and governance.
All of the mayors and I agreed that we had a very productive meeting. There is measurable value in sitting together to discuss issues of common interest and the concerns we share. Our goal coming out of the meeting was to look for ways to help the region move forward. We have refined that goal, based on the collective input of everyone present. The Province of British Columbia has committed to providing a facilitation process, focused on fact finding, to specifically identify what the real issues and opportunities are in the communities in the Capital region. Following that measurable outcome, we have committed to meet again and to ensure that we share with the public the findings of this work. Collectively, we are moving ahead - we have a plan of action - and it feels good!
While the nature of this facilitation work is still under development, I anticipate that essential to any process considering governance and services would be an opportunity for citizens and organizations, such as Amalgamation Yes, to provide input to their local governments.
Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
Peter Fassbender
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink
Date: Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 11:34 AM
Subject: Ref. #165287: Meeting with Mayors regarding governance in the capital region
To: Tony Heemskerk
Cc: "kwilliams@highlands.ca" <kwilliams@highlands.ca>, "mayor@colwood.ca" <mayor@colwood.ca>, "jranns@metchosin.ca" <jranns@metchosin.ca>, "afinall@northsaanich.ca" <afinall@northsaanich.ca>, "oakbaymayor@oakbay.ca" <oakbaymayor@oakbay.ca>, "mayor@saanich.ca" <mayor@saanich.ca>, "slprice@sidney.ca" <slprice@sidney.ca>, "lhelps@victoria.ca" <lhelps@victoria.ca>, "mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca" <mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca>, "mtait@sooke.ca" <mtait@sooke.ca>, "Dawes, Jacquie CSCD:EX" <Jacquie.Dawes@gov.bc.ca>
Ref: 165287
Mr. Tony Heemskerk
Chair
Amalgamation Yes
Dear Mr. Heemskerk:
Thank you for your previous emails and recommendations regarding a study on governance in the Greater Victoria region.
I appreciate the contributions that Amalgamation Yes brings to this discussion, including comments at the recent Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
Since my address to the Chamber, I have met with local mayors to hear their thoughts on governance and services in the Capital region. Understanding these views is an important first step in exploring opportunities for improved integration of services and governance.
All of the mayors and I agreed that we had a very productive meeting. There is measurable value in sitting together to discuss issues of common interest and the concerns we share. Our goal coming out of the meeting was to look for ways to help the region move forward. We have refined that goal, based on the collective input of everyone present. The Province of British Columbia has committed to providing a facilitation process, focused on fact finding, to specifically identify what the real issues and opportunities are in the communities in the Capital region. Following that measurable outcome, we have committed to meet again and to ensure that we share with the public the findings of this work. Collectively, we are moving ahead - we have a plan of action - and it feels good!
While the nature of this facilitation work is still under development, I anticipate that essential to any process considering governance and services would be an opportunity for citizens and organizations, such as Amalgamation Yes, to provide input to their local governments.
Thank you again for writing.
Sincerely,
Peter Fassbender
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and Minister Responsible for TransLink
