Keep politicians away from amalgamation study
Times Colonist Letters
November 22, 2014
The residents of seven municipalities in Greater Victoria have voted strongly in support of obtaining more information on potential changes in municipal governance.
Obtaining the necessary information, analyzing it, identifying the options and identifying implementation issues will be a challenging task.
The province has agreed to fund such a study and, realistically, it could take a couple of years before the results are known.
Given the stonewalling and reluctance of many municipal councils to even have the question on the ballot in the municipal election, it is important that if the results of this study are to have any validity at all, then local politicians should be specifically excluded from participating in any and all parts of this work. At the very least, they have a conflict of interest and in the worst case, they could sabotage the results.
The residents are looking for a credible study. We want to identify the pros and cons of changing the way we are governed, identify the financial implications, identify changes in the way that services could be provided, identify whether or not service levels are improved, and identify the softer issues, such as representation on council and protecting values that are held dear in each municipality.
Politicians must keep their distance, no matter how much they want to be in the kitchen and stir the stew.
Bruce Tutt
North Saanich
© Copyright Times Colonist
Times Colonist Letters
November 22, 2014
The residents of seven municipalities in Greater Victoria have voted strongly in support of obtaining more information on potential changes in municipal governance.
Obtaining the necessary information, analyzing it, identifying the options and identifying implementation issues will be a challenging task.
The province has agreed to fund such a study and, realistically, it could take a couple of years before the results are known.
Given the stonewalling and reluctance of many municipal councils to even have the question on the ballot in the municipal election, it is important that if the results of this study are to have any validity at all, then local politicians should be specifically excluded from participating in any and all parts of this work. At the very least, they have a conflict of interest and in the worst case, they could sabotage the results.
The residents are looking for a credible study. We want to identify the pros and cons of changing the way we are governed, identify the financial implications, identify changes in the way that services could be provided, identify whether or not service levels are improved, and identify the softer issues, such as representation on council and protecting values that are held dear in each municipality.
Politicians must keep their distance, no matter how much they want to be in the kitchen and stir the stew.
Bruce Tutt
North Saanich
© Copyright Times Colonist
