FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (October 8th, 2014)
Province congratulates municipalities exploring amalgamation – confirms resources and support for studies
The Honorable Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development has extended congratulations to municipalities within the CRD that have agreed to place a non-binding amalgamation question on the November ballot.
“We are pleased to hear the Minister endorse the recent actions of the majority of municipalities in the Victoria Capital Region. The ballot question will provide an opportunity for local residents to have their say in a measured and structured forum” said Tony Heemskerk spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.
“Congratulations are also due to all the residents of Greater Victoria who have expressed loudly and clearly that a governance review is a pressing concern for them. Amalgamation Yes has provided a vessel to amplify those views, but we could not have been successful without the thousands of community voices”, said Susan Jones, outgoing Chair of Amalgamation Yes.
“Minister Oakes has confirmed the availability of staff and resources to examine governance structures after the election results. Unbiased, objective studies conducted by the Province will provide the best quality information to residents for future decision-making. We thank the Minister for her recognition of these historic developments, and for her continued dedication to improving local governance.” added Heemskerk
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.
There remains 46,000 residents in the communities of Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands and Sooke without a voice on this matter. There is still time for these municipalities to place a question on the ballot. “Now is the time for elected officials to act and place the matter before the electorate in November,” concluded 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?”
Contact Information:
Tony Heemskerk: Amalgamation Yes Communications chair, 250-818-4977
www.amalgamationyes.ca
Backgrounde
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.
Province congratulates municipalities exploring amalgamation – confirms resources and support for studies
The Honorable Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development has extended congratulations to municipalities within the CRD that have agreed to place a non-binding amalgamation question on the November ballot.
“We are pleased to hear the Minister endorse the recent actions of the majority of municipalities in the Victoria Capital Region. The ballot question will provide an opportunity for local residents to have their say in a measured and structured forum” said Tony Heemskerk spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.
“Congratulations are also due to all the residents of Greater Victoria who have expressed loudly and clearly that a governance review is a pressing concern for them. Amalgamation Yes has provided a vessel to amplify those views, but we could not have been successful without the thousands of community voices”, said Susan Jones, outgoing Chair of Amalgamation Yes.
“Minister Oakes has confirmed the availability of staff and resources to examine governance structures after the election results. Unbiased, objective studies conducted by the Province will provide the best quality information to residents for future decision-making. We thank the Minister for her recognition of these historic developments, and for her continued dedication to improving local governance.” added Heemskerk
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.
There remains 46,000 residents in the communities of Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands and Sooke without a voice on this matter. There is still time for these municipalities to place a question on the ballot. “Now is the time for elected officials to act and place the matter before the electorate in November,” concluded 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?”
Contact Information:
Tony Heemskerk: Amalgamation Yes Communications chair, 250-818-4977
www.amalgamationyes.ca
Backgrounde
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.
- View Royal - 10,858
- Metchosin - 5,312
- Sooke - 11,435
- Highlands - 2,257
- Colwood - 16,579