Project to promote civic conversations launches Tuesday
Times Colonist,
February 22, 2015
Whether the topic is amalgamation or sewage treatment, getting people to talk about the way local government operates and provides services is the goal of the Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project.
The project revolves around a series of public meetings that begins Tuesday. It follows a strong mandate from the public in November’s municipal elections to support studying amalgamation in the capital region.
The issue was put forward as non-binding referendum questions in eight of 13 regional municipalities. About 75 per cent of people voted in support.
But the conversation won’t focus solely on amalgamation. Project spokeswoman Shellie Gudgeon said the idea is to invite input on a range of topics, including emergency services, transportation and sewage.
Gudgeon, a former Victoria councillor, said the initiative is separate from Amalgamation Yes, the organization that spearheaded the effort to get the non-binding question on the ballot.
“This is a grassroots, ad hoc, really diverse group of people coming together to continue the conversation and to put a little bit of pressure on the provincial government.”
Gudgeon, who is also an Amalgamation Yes board member, called the current state of affairs in the capital region “profoundly dysfunctional.”
Amalgamation Yes acting president Tony Heemskerk said the coming meetings, conducted under the banner of a new group, are a positive step.
“Engaging the public is a very good thing,” he said.
Gudgeon said the intent of the public meetings is to get people together to share ideas.
“I know that we can work together better than we currently do. If this puts pressure on the 13 municipalities to find ways to work together better, then we’ve succeeded.”
Following the November vote, Community Minister Coralee Oakes announced that the province would conduct a governance study in the capital region, looking at issues such as whether taxpayer money is being used efficiently. Meeting-goers will be invited to talk about what they think the study should entail.
Gudgeon said neighbourhood identity is one issue that could come up.
“I’m passionate about neighbourhoods,” she said. “I believe neighbourhoods are weakened in the current state because neighbours are so busy fighting huge issues when they’re not focusing on their own street. People make a neighbourhood, I don’t believe government does.”
Tuesday’s event is at 5 p.m. at the S.J. Willis Education Centre, 923 Topaz Ave., and features Janni Aragon from the University of Victoria political science department as the keynote speaker. A panel has been assembled that includes Jamie Graham, Victoria’s former chief of police, and Cairine Green, a 2015 candidate for Oak Bay mayor.
[email protected]
Times Colonist,
February 22, 2015
Whether the topic is amalgamation or sewage treatment, getting people to talk about the way local government operates and provides services is the goal of the Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project.
The project revolves around a series of public meetings that begins Tuesday. It follows a strong mandate from the public in November’s municipal elections to support studying amalgamation in the capital region.
The issue was put forward as non-binding referendum questions in eight of 13 regional municipalities. About 75 per cent of people voted in support.
But the conversation won’t focus solely on amalgamation. Project spokeswoman Shellie Gudgeon said the idea is to invite input on a range of topics, including emergency services, transportation and sewage.
Gudgeon, a former Victoria councillor, said the initiative is separate from Amalgamation Yes, the organization that spearheaded the effort to get the non-binding question on the ballot.
“This is a grassroots, ad hoc, really diverse group of people coming together to continue the conversation and to put a little bit of pressure on the provincial government.”
Gudgeon, who is also an Amalgamation Yes board member, called the current state of affairs in the capital region “profoundly dysfunctional.”
Amalgamation Yes acting president Tony Heemskerk said the coming meetings, conducted under the banner of a new group, are a positive step.
“Engaging the public is a very good thing,” he said.
Gudgeon said the intent of the public meetings is to get people together to share ideas.
“I know that we can work together better than we currently do. If this puts pressure on the 13 municipalities to find ways to work together better, then we’ve succeeded.”
Following the November vote, Community Minister Coralee Oakes announced that the province would conduct a governance study in the capital region, looking at issues such as whether taxpayer money is being used efficiently. Meeting-goers will be invited to talk about what they think the study should entail.
Gudgeon said neighbourhood identity is one issue that could come up.
“I’m passionate about neighbourhoods,” she said. “I believe neighbourhoods are weakened in the current state because neighbours are so busy fighting huge issues when they’re not focusing on their own street. People make a neighbourhood, I don’t believe government does.”
Tuesday’s event is at 5 p.m. at the S.J. Willis Education Centre, 923 Topaz Ave., and features Janni Aragon from the University of Victoria political science department as the keynote speaker. A panel has been assembled that includes Jamie Graham, Victoria’s former chief of police, and Cairine Green, a 2015 candidate for Oak Bay mayor.
[email protected]