From: Amalgamation Yes <amalgamateyes@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Subject: Study of Greater Victoria municipal governance
To: premier@gov.bc.ca
Cc: CSCD.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Dear Premier Clark,
We continue to seek Provincial leadership in conducting a study into municipal and regional governance in the Victoria region as promised by your government. If such a study is to move forward we believe that firm intervention by you is required.
On the November 15, 2014 municipal election ballots, 75% of citizens of Greater Victoria (representing 90% of the population) indicated their desire to study and seek an improved municipal governance for the area. Your government acknowledged the democratic will of the public and committed to leading and conducting a study for the benefit of the citizens of Greater Victoria.
On July 30, 2015 the Honourable Peter Fassbender was given the mandate as the Minister responsible for Community, Sport and Cultural Development to specifically; “develop and present options to cabinet on potential processes of which local governments could either amalgamate or integrate service delivery by June 30, 2016”.
Minister Fassbender recently met with local mayors to seek their input, but realistically one cannot expect productive, unbiased results from these mayors who, with few exceptions, have vigorously resisted any movement towards an amalgamation study.
Five of the 13 mayors outright refused to permit a non-binding referendum question on the last municipal ballot. They didn't want the views of their own constituents and appear not to want them now either.
Unfortunately, it also appears from recent correspondence from the Minister and anecdotal statements by local mayors that the whole issue of amalgamation has been abandoned in favour of some type of integration.
It is becoming increasingly clear, in light of the difficulties the municipalities have implementing sewage treatment ($65 million already spent with no tangible progress), transportation, housing issues and the implementation/funding of regional opportunities, that there might just be a better way to govern Greater Victoria.
To achieve any semblance of fairness, accuracy, and completeness, a regional governance study must be undertaken by an unbiased resource with public participation.
Local residents voted resoundingly for some form of local government reform and now their municipal leaders are failing to follow through with election promises and failing to respect the ballot results. There is a growing belief that they have been abandoned by their Provincial government.
Proponents of a governance study cross a wide spectrum of our society – this is a non-partisan issue that draws strong support from all sectors of our community as evidenced at the ballot box, and by numerous formal and informal polls.
We look forward to hearing from the Government of British Columbia by June 30, 2016, on how it will fulfill its promise to conduct a review of governance in the region as requested by its citizens.
Thank you for consideration of this matter, and we look forward to your timely and crucial leadership on this very important issue.
Tony Heemskerk,
Chair,
Capital Region Municipal Amalgamation Society
amalgamationyes.ca
cc: Honourable Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
Date: Tue, Jan 26, 2016 at 5:44 PM
Subject: Study of Greater Victoria municipal governance
To: premier@gov.bc.ca
Cc: CSCD.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Dear Premier Clark,
We continue to seek Provincial leadership in conducting a study into municipal and regional governance in the Victoria region as promised by your government. If such a study is to move forward we believe that firm intervention by you is required.
On the November 15, 2014 municipal election ballots, 75% of citizens of Greater Victoria (representing 90% of the population) indicated their desire to study and seek an improved municipal governance for the area. Your government acknowledged the democratic will of the public and committed to leading and conducting a study for the benefit of the citizens of Greater Victoria.
On July 30, 2015 the Honourable Peter Fassbender was given the mandate as the Minister responsible for Community, Sport and Cultural Development to specifically; “develop and present options to cabinet on potential processes of which local governments could either amalgamate or integrate service delivery by June 30, 2016”.
Minister Fassbender recently met with local mayors to seek their input, but realistically one cannot expect productive, unbiased results from these mayors who, with few exceptions, have vigorously resisted any movement towards an amalgamation study.
Five of the 13 mayors outright refused to permit a non-binding referendum question on the last municipal ballot. They didn't want the views of their own constituents and appear not to want them now either.
Unfortunately, it also appears from recent correspondence from the Minister and anecdotal statements by local mayors that the whole issue of amalgamation has been abandoned in favour of some type of integration.
It is becoming increasingly clear, in light of the difficulties the municipalities have implementing sewage treatment ($65 million already spent with no tangible progress), transportation, housing issues and the implementation/funding of regional opportunities, that there might just be a better way to govern Greater Victoria.
To achieve any semblance of fairness, accuracy, and completeness, a regional governance study must be undertaken by an unbiased resource with public participation.
Local residents voted resoundingly for some form of local government reform and now their municipal leaders are failing to follow through with election promises and failing to respect the ballot results. There is a growing belief that they have been abandoned by their Provincial government.
Proponents of a governance study cross a wide spectrum of our society – this is a non-partisan issue that draws strong support from all sectors of our community as evidenced at the ballot box, and by numerous formal and informal polls.
We look forward to hearing from the Government of British Columbia by June 30, 2016, on how it will fulfill its promise to conduct a review of governance in the region as requested by its citizens.
Thank you for consideration of this matter, and we look forward to your timely and crucial leadership on this very important issue.
Tony Heemskerk,
Chair,
Capital Region Municipal Amalgamation Society
amalgamationyes.ca
cc: Honourable Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
