FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (October 7th, 2014)
More municipalities place non-binding amalgamation question on the November 2014 municipal ballot, North Saanich and Saanich.
North Saanich, at its council meeting on October 6, passed a motion to place an amalgamation question on the ballot. The question approved is, “Do you support a provincially funded study to investigate the feasibility, costs and implications of amalgamating the municipalities of North Saanich, Sidney and Central Saanich.”
“We are delighted that North Saanich has joined its neighbours in allowing the electorate to vote on a non-binding ballot question this November to study possible amalgamation on the peninsula. Now it is up to the electorate to provide direction to the new councils by letting their wishes be known on regional governance through the ballot box,” said Tony Heemskerk spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.
Saanich Council also passed a motion on October 6 to review its internal operation and its relationship to the region. The question being asked is, “Do you support Council initiating a community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and our partnerships within the Region?”
“Saanich residents will now have some say in the amalgamation debate, although we had hoped for a much clearer non-binding question on amalgamation so that the residents could give direction to the incoming Mayor and council on exploring governance issues and on conducting a thorough cost/benefit analysis of the possibilities for the region,” added Tony Heemskerk.
Now 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 means that municipalities representing 291,716 people in the Capital Region population have opted to hear residents’ voices on this important issue. 46,000 of the population of the region will not have a voice on this matter.
“There is still time for the other municipalities to extend the same right to their citizens. We urge, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands, and Sooke to follow suit and let their citizens join the conversation on amalgamation,” stated Tony Heemskerk.
Amalgamation Yes will continue to encourage all municipalities in the region to put an amalgamation question on the ballot. The non-binding question proposed by AmalgamationYes is “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?” A positive result would motivate the Province of BC to commission an expert study to compare various municipal amalgamation models against the status quo and trigger community engagement about how we wish to be governed.
“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. Now is the time for elected officials to act and place the matter before the electorate in November, added Tony Heemskerk.
Contact Information:
Tony Heemskerk: Amalgamation Yes Communications chair, 250-818-4977
www.amalgamationyes.ca
Backgrounder
86% of Greater Victoria will be voting on non-binding question! 14% will not
These eight communities in Greater Victoria have the right to vote on a non-binding question about their future governance – population of 291,716 citizens.
Five municipalities do not have a non-binding question on the ballot. Population of 46,441 citizens.
More municipalities place non-binding amalgamation question on the November 2014 municipal ballot, North Saanich and Saanich.
North Saanich, at its council meeting on October 6, passed a motion to place an amalgamation question on the ballot. The question approved is, “Do you support a provincially funded study to investigate the feasibility, costs and implications of amalgamating the municipalities of North Saanich, Sidney and Central Saanich.”
“We are delighted that North Saanich has joined its neighbours in allowing the electorate to vote on a non-binding ballot question this November to study possible amalgamation on the peninsula. Now it is up to the electorate to provide direction to the new councils by letting their wishes be known on regional governance through the ballot box,” said Tony Heemskerk spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.
Saanich Council also passed a motion on October 6 to review its internal operation and its relationship to the region. The question being asked is, “Do you support Council initiating a community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and our partnerships within the Region?”
“Saanich residents will now have some say in the amalgamation debate, although we had hoped for a much clearer non-binding question on amalgamation so that the residents could give direction to the incoming Mayor and council on exploring governance issues and on conducting a thorough cost/benefit analysis of the possibilities for the region,” added Tony Heemskerk.
Now 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 means that municipalities representing 291,716 people in the Capital Region population have opted to hear residents’ voices on this important issue. 46,000 of the population of the region will not have a voice on this matter.
“There is still time for the other municipalities to extend the same right to their citizens. We urge, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands, and Sooke to follow suit and let their citizens join the conversation on amalgamation,” stated Tony Heemskerk.
Amalgamation Yes will continue to encourage all municipalities in the region to put an amalgamation question on the ballot. The non-binding question proposed by AmalgamationYes is “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?” A positive result would motivate the Province of BC to commission an expert study to compare various municipal amalgamation models against the status quo and trigger community engagement about how we wish to be governed.
“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. Now is the time for elected officials to act and place the matter before the electorate in November, added Tony Heemskerk.
Contact Information:
Tony Heemskerk: Amalgamation Yes Communications chair, 250-818-4977
www.amalgamationyes.ca
Backgrounder
86% of Greater Victoria will be voting on non-binding question! 14% will not
These eight communities in Greater Victoria have the right to vote on a non-binding question about their future governance – population of 291,716 citizens.
- Langford - 29,228---No official non-binding question announced yet
- Victoria - 80, 017---Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in Greater Victoria through Amalgamation. “YES" or "NO"
- Central Saanich - 15,936 No official non-binding question announced yet
- Sidney - 11,538---Are you in favour of a provincially funded study to investigate the feasibility, costs and implications of amalgamating the three municipalities of the Saanich Peninsula? "YES" or "NO"
- Esquimalt - 16,209 As an independent municipality, do you support the Township of Esquimalt exploring options with other municipalities to achieve greater efficiencies by further sharing some services with other municipalities? "YES" or "NO" 2. Do you support the reduction of the number of municipalities within the Capital Regional District through amalgamation? "YES" or "NO"
- Oak Bay - 18,015 Are you in favour of the District of Oak Bay being amalgamated into a larger regional municipality. "YES" or "NO"
- North Saanich - 11,021 - Do you support a provincially funded study to investigate the feasibility, costs and implications of amalgamating the municipalities of North Saanich, Sidney and Central Saanich. “YES” or “NO”
- will be announced Oct. 7, 2014
- Saanich - 109,752 - Do you support Council initiating a community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and our partnerships within the Region? This is not a question calling for research or study of amalgamation within the region.
Five municipalities do not have a non-binding question on the ballot. Population of 46,441 citizens.
- View Royal - 10,858
- Metchosin - 5,312
- Sooke - 11,435
- Highlands - 2,257
- Colwood - 16,579
