FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (February 13th, 2014)
Amalgamation Yes Calls for Democracy to win out
The Capital Region District at its meeting on February 12th voted down Victoria Councilor Marianne Alto’s motion asking municipalities to put the question of amalgamation on the November 2014 ballot.
A number of the representatives stated, it is not the role of the CRD to tell the municipalities what to do. Some suggested Victoria should just have sent them a letter stating what it had done and encouraging other municipalities to do likewise.
Mayor Cross and Mayor Desjardins stated that their councils will deal with the amalgamation question in due course. Mayor Jenson indicated that Oak Bay Council has decided not to put the matter to the electorate for a vote. Victoria and Colwood have decided to give the public the right to vote on the matter.
Society secretary Earle Anthony said: “I was disappointed that the CRD Board Directors would not take a leadership position on this issue and encourage the municipalities to allow the electorate to have its say on this important issue.”
“We have been on the sidewalks, at public forums and events. Overwhelmingly the public express their desire to have their say on reducing the number of municipalities through amalgamation in the capital region,” said John Vickers spokesperson for the Capital Region Municipal Amalgamation Society. “The public is speaking and their councils need to hear them and allow them the opportunity to vote on this important matter.”
The non-binging question proposed by AmalgamationYes is “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?” A positive result would motivate the Province of BC to commission an expert study to compare various municipal amalgamation models against the status quo and trigger community engagement about how we wish to be governed.
Contact Information:
Earle Anthony: Amalgamation Yes Secretary, 250-592-4831
John Vickers: Amalgamation Yes Spokesperson, 250-661-5350
Amalgamation Yes Calls for Democracy to win out
The Capital Region District at its meeting on February 12th voted down Victoria Councilor Marianne Alto’s motion asking municipalities to put the question of amalgamation on the November 2014 ballot.
A number of the representatives stated, it is not the role of the CRD to tell the municipalities what to do. Some suggested Victoria should just have sent them a letter stating what it had done and encouraging other municipalities to do likewise.
Mayor Cross and Mayor Desjardins stated that their councils will deal with the amalgamation question in due course. Mayor Jenson indicated that Oak Bay Council has decided not to put the matter to the electorate for a vote. Victoria and Colwood have decided to give the public the right to vote on the matter.
Society secretary Earle Anthony said: “I was disappointed that the CRD Board Directors would not take a leadership position on this issue and encourage the municipalities to allow the electorate to have its say on this important issue.”
“We have been on the sidewalks, at public forums and events. Overwhelmingly the public express their desire to have their say on reducing the number of municipalities through amalgamation in the capital region,” said John Vickers spokesperson for the Capital Region Municipal Amalgamation Society. “The public is speaking and their councils need to hear them and allow them the opportunity to vote on this important matter.”
The non-binging question proposed by AmalgamationYes is “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?” A positive result would motivate the Province of BC to commission an expert study to compare various municipal amalgamation models against the status quo and trigger community engagement about how we wish to be governed.
Contact Information:
Earle Anthony: Amalgamation Yes Secretary, 250-592-4831
John Vickers: Amalgamation Yes Spokesperson, 250-661-5350