Time to take a look at amalgamation, minister says
Times Colonist,
March 13, 2015
Community Minister Coralee Oakes has repeated her support for a governance study in the capital region, saying it is time to start the process of seeking a more effective structure that saves money for taxpayers.
Speaking at an event this week, Oakes said she believes grassroots involvement should be an important element in what happens.
Shellie Gudgeon, a former Victoria councillor, was encouraged by Oakes’s words.
Gudgeon is involved with both Amalgamation Yes, the group that led the effort to get a non-binding governance question on last November’s municipal ballot, and the Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project. The latter also deals with governance, and aims to gather opinions before a study is held.
Gudgeon said such a study would look at a range of issues. “It’s: ‘How do we do things better in the capital region?’ ”
She said considerable work has been done by citizens to put the matter forward, but the provincial government has to take steps, as well. She said Oakes seemed to agree that “top-down has to meet bottom-up.”
“There needs to be grassroots engagement, but what I and others stressed is that the public believes they’ve already spoken and that was during the election,” Gudgeon said.
Eight of the region’s 13 municipalities had governance questions on the ballot, with about 75 per of people voting in support.
The Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project hosted a meeting on Feb. 24 that brought out about 100 people to talk about governance.
Next up, the group is organizing an April 21 event with former premier Mike Harcourt as the keynote speaker.
Admission is free but RSVPs are required and can be made at greatervictoriaconversation.ca.
Times Colonist,
March 13, 2015
Community Minister Coralee Oakes has repeated her support for a governance study in the capital region, saying it is time to start the process of seeking a more effective structure that saves money for taxpayers.
Speaking at an event this week, Oakes said she believes grassroots involvement should be an important element in what happens.
Shellie Gudgeon, a former Victoria councillor, was encouraged by Oakes’s words.
Gudgeon is involved with both Amalgamation Yes, the group that led the effort to get a non-binding governance question on last November’s municipal ballot, and the Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project. The latter also deals with governance, and aims to gather opinions before a study is held.
Gudgeon said such a study would look at a range of issues. “It’s: ‘How do we do things better in the capital region?’ ”
She said considerable work has been done by citizens to put the matter forward, but the provincial government has to take steps, as well. She said Oakes seemed to agree that “top-down has to meet bottom-up.”
“There needs to be grassroots engagement, but what I and others stressed is that the public believes they’ve already spoken and that was during the election,” Gudgeon said.
Eight of the region’s 13 municipalities had governance questions on the ballot, with about 75 per of people voting in support.
The Greatest Greater Victoria Conversation Project hosted a meeting on Feb. 24 that brought out about 100 people to talk about governance.
Next up, the group is organizing an April 21 event with former premier Mike Harcourt as the keynote speaker.
Admission is free but RSVPs are required and can be made at greatervictoriaconversation.ca.