FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (October 14th, 2014)

Colwood will not place a non- binding question on November 2014 municipal ballot.


At its council meeting Colwood passed a motion not to ask a non-binding question but resolved to participate in the exploration process for amalgamation or integration of services in the future with one or more municipalities should the opportunity present itself.

“We are surprised that Colwood would not seek the will of the electorate on this important issue. It would resolve the issue of whether residents wish to review the potential for amalgamation.” Said Tony Heemskerk spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.

As of October 6, eight municipalities have some type of non-binding question on the ballot to review governance in the region: North Saanich, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Langford, Esquimalt, Victoria, Sidney and Saanich. This represents 291,000 people, or 86% of the population of the CRD municipalities. 46,000 residents in the communities of Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands and Sooke will not be given a similar opportunity.

One reason cited by a council member to not ask a question was that only 27% of the public voted, which would not give them much of a mandate. “Surely that is how the council receives their own electoral mandate.  Perhaps this issue would help to increase voter participation and give council a clear mandate to discuss amalgamation,” added Tony Heemskerk.

“The public wants to vote on the matter of amalgamation as evidenced by the recent Angus Reid poll where 89% of those surveyed felt the question should be on the November ballot, by the discussion in the media and in signatures gathered by AmalgamationYes on its petition,” added Tony Heemskerk


Contact Information:

Tony Heemskerk: Amalgamation Yes Spokesperson, 250-818-4977
www.amalgamationyes.ca