Get amalgamation question on ballot

Saanich News Letters
September 24, 2014 

Re: Amalgamation ‘not a Saanich debate:’ Leonard (News, Sept. 12)

I think the question to be asked is Frank Leonard afraid of losing his power and job?

A real mayor listens to the people that pay their taxes and pay the employees of Saanich their wages. Hence the taxpayer.

Yes, the Mayor is elected, but he is also an employee of the district. When people have a position for as long as Frank Leonard, they seem to forget the taxpayers are the ones that pay their wages and pensions.

When you stop listening to the elected public, it’s time to move on.

When the Capital Region’s largest municipality denies the people a say on amalgamation, there is something wrong at municipal hall.

How can you believe that 350,000 people in 13 municipalities need 13 mayors, staff, city halls, city work yards and thousands of employees, overlapping of services, jobs and bylaws.

There are six police forces, when really only one force should do the work for 13 municipalities and 350,000 people.

The real question, I’m sure, is which city will become the token name and head of government. Victoria? Saanich?

And do we really need the Capital Regional District, another level of Government? As one big city, we could make the same decisions that 13 now do. Does it really matter at this point in time, when really, equal representation of all 13 municipalities could easily be achieved? 


Paul Hammer
Saanich