Task force formed to review Comox Valley governance structure
Comox Valley Echo,
June 3, 2014
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched a new initiative that aims to review the current governance model of the region to determine if improvements are necessary or needed.
It has formed the Comox Valley Governance Review Task Force that is now chaired by Joe Smith.
The goal is to conduct an independent study to determine if the governance of the Comox Valley is structured in a manner that best satisfies the political, cultural and public services the community needs in order to meet the challenges that growth brings.
"Over the years we've heard people talk about something needs to be done in the valley in terms of the government," said Smith.
But before this initiative could proceed any further, it needs to get guidance from five per cent of registered voters in the region.
"The chamber of commerce feels that it's time that we got the community involved in looking at what we need to do," said Smith. At present, a petition is being circulated and once sufficient signatures are obtained, the Task Force will then have a mandate from the voters to investigate fully whether it's beneficial or not to restructure the provision of services and the governance of the Comox Valley.
"We need to show that the community has an appetite for a study of this nature," said Smith. "We need to have at least 5,000 signatures of voters within the community." The task force, Smith said is following the review process as outlined in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Review and Program Guide titled "Managing Changes to Local Government Structure."
The task force, Smith said, is a non-partisan group in the Chamber of Commerce. It is composed of a diverse section of business people, retirees, volunteers and former politicians.
The study will look at current and future needs of the community. Recent events, Smith said, have prompted the notion that something needs to be initiated in the Comox Valley. In 2007, he pointed out, the Comox Strathcona Regional District was split into two by the provincial government creating the Comox Valley Regional District and the Strathcona Regional District.
"Obviously it recognized the regional government structure was not working," said Smith. "So the province did something. They didn't go to a referendum. They just did."
As well, in 1999, a referendum was held calling for the amalgamation of the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox and certain parts of Areas A, B, and C. It was defeated. There was also an independent citizens group in 2007 that put out a proposal for one area of government. It was rejected by the BC government because it did not have the support of the local governments.
In 2009, Union Bay expressed dissatisfaction with the region and held a referendum to incorporate as a municipality. That failed by only 50 votes, which Smith said is an indication that more than half the population of Union Bay was looking for change.
In 2010, there was a proposed amalgamation of the Village of Cumberland and Royston but it did not materialize. Royston is now managed by the regional district.
Governance reviews have been successfully achieved in many communities in Vancouver Island and across the province, said Smith. As well there reviews occurring at present in places like Salt Springs Island, Trail, and Victoria.
If sufficient signatures are collected through the petitions, then the Task Force will initiate a request for a study to have a joint committee established to oversee the review process as outlined by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
This initiative is in line with the BC Chamber of Commerce Policy Statement that has been approved by all member Chambers throughout the province.
"Why the chamber is involved is because several years ago they identified there was a need to review the regional governance structures because they sense they're not working properly," said Smith. "Of course we can see that by the split here in the Comox Valley. So let's put opinions as aside. Let's put speculation aside. We need to get facts inorder to be able to make decisions because we don't have the answers. That's what the governance review will do for the Comox Valley."
The Task Force will be visiting many community groups and organizations in the coming weeks to provide more information on this initiative. Please contact the Comox Valley Chamber if your organization is interested in hearing from this Task Force.
© Comox Valley Echo
Comox Valley Echo,
June 3, 2014
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched a new initiative that aims to review the current governance model of the region to determine if improvements are necessary or needed.
It has formed the Comox Valley Governance Review Task Force that is now chaired by Joe Smith.
The goal is to conduct an independent study to determine if the governance of the Comox Valley is structured in a manner that best satisfies the political, cultural and public services the community needs in order to meet the challenges that growth brings.
"Over the years we've heard people talk about something needs to be done in the valley in terms of the government," said Smith.
But before this initiative could proceed any further, it needs to get guidance from five per cent of registered voters in the region.
"The chamber of commerce feels that it's time that we got the community involved in looking at what we need to do," said Smith. At present, a petition is being circulated and once sufficient signatures are obtained, the Task Force will then have a mandate from the voters to investigate fully whether it's beneficial or not to restructure the provision of services and the governance of the Comox Valley.
"We need to show that the community has an appetite for a study of this nature," said Smith. "We need to have at least 5,000 signatures of voters within the community." The task force, Smith said is following the review process as outlined in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs Review and Program Guide titled "Managing Changes to Local Government Structure."
The task force, Smith said, is a non-partisan group in the Chamber of Commerce. It is composed of a diverse section of business people, retirees, volunteers and former politicians.
The study will look at current and future needs of the community. Recent events, Smith said, have prompted the notion that something needs to be initiated in the Comox Valley. In 2007, he pointed out, the Comox Strathcona Regional District was split into two by the provincial government creating the Comox Valley Regional District and the Strathcona Regional District.
"Obviously it recognized the regional government structure was not working," said Smith. "So the province did something. They didn't go to a referendum. They just did."
As well, in 1999, a referendum was held calling for the amalgamation of the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox and certain parts of Areas A, B, and C. It was defeated. There was also an independent citizens group in 2007 that put out a proposal for one area of government. It was rejected by the BC government because it did not have the support of the local governments.
In 2009, Union Bay expressed dissatisfaction with the region and held a referendum to incorporate as a municipality. That failed by only 50 votes, which Smith said is an indication that more than half the population of Union Bay was looking for change.
In 2010, there was a proposed amalgamation of the Village of Cumberland and Royston but it did not materialize. Royston is now managed by the regional district.
Governance reviews have been successfully achieved in many communities in Vancouver Island and across the province, said Smith. As well there reviews occurring at present in places like Salt Springs Island, Trail, and Victoria.
If sufficient signatures are collected through the petitions, then the Task Force will initiate a request for a study to have a joint committee established to oversee the review process as outlined by the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
This initiative is in line with the BC Chamber of Commerce Policy Statement that has been approved by all member Chambers throughout the province.
"Why the chamber is involved is because several years ago they identified there was a need to review the regional governance structures because they sense they're not working properly," said Smith. "Of course we can see that by the split here in the Comox Valley. So let's put opinions as aside. Let's put speculation aside. We need to get facts inorder to be able to make decisions because we don't have the answers. That's what the governance review will do for the Comox Valley."
The Task Force will be visiting many community groups and organizations in the coming weeks to provide more information on this initiative. Please contact the Comox Valley Chamber if your organization is interested in hearing from this Task Force.
© Comox Valley Echo