FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (November 19, 2015)


Amalgamation Yes calls on Premier to intervene in Victoria amalgamation study efforts

In a recent address to the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, the Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Peter Fassbender stated his government is no longer committed to holding a regional study on the pros and cons on levels of amalgamation. This is opposite to the commitment made by his predecessor Minister Coralee Oakes who after the last municipal election had promised a funded study after ballot results showed overwhelming regional support for a governance review.

Minister Fassbender, a former mayor of Langley City from 2005 to 2014 who opposed amalgamation in his community, says he is willing to help facilitate discussions with regional mayors on the issue, despite the fact that many local mayors have shown little interest in a region wide governance review.

Last November on eight non-binding municipal ballot questions, 60,000 of 80,000 voters representing almost 90% of the region’s electorate said 'Yes' to various questions mostly addressing a level of amalgamation in the region. Since that time, Premier Christy Clark highlighted new top priorities for the Community, Sport Cultural Development Ministry including an amalgamation review.

“It is clear we have a Minister who does not intend to either respect democracy or the will of the people”, says John Vickers, spokesperson for Amalgamation Yes. “The time has come for the Premier to intervene and assure Greater Victorians that the commitments previously made by her government be respected and further, reassure voters that democracy is alive and well in British Columbia and her government will respect the people’s wishes.”


Contact Information:
John Vickers: AmalgamationYes, Vice Chair and Spokesperson, 250-661-5350

AmalgamationYes

www.amalgamationyes.ca