Two-tiered governance a dysfunctional system
Times Colonist
June 7, 2014
Re: "Victoria's Plan B - going alone on sewage," May 31.
When the seven municipalities began working toward a common sewage treatment plan, who would have thought that sewage would lay bare the problems of our dysfunctional two-tier local governance system?
A collective approach to sewage treatment might or might not make sense; however, when the second tier of local government (Capital Regional District) became involved, common sense and accountability went out the window. Why would an organization without accountability across the seven municipalities bother to seek a "social licence" for its decisions?
The 15 sewage treatment committee members are the same CRD directors who represent their municipalities on the CRD board. Not one is accountable in any of the seven municipalities. Saanich, being the most populous, has five directors and Victoria has four, giving those two municipalities a majority on both the sewage committee and on financial votes on sewage treatment.
Where else could local politicians from one municipality try to impose sewage treatment facilities on another? Where is the accountability? Can we, as a region, do better than the CRD and multiple municipalities? The public in all 13 municipalities should be given an opportunity for a "non-binding" vote to see if they support an objective study of other municipal structuring options.
Colin Nielsen
Victoria
© Copyright Times Colonist
Times Colonist
June 7, 2014
Re: "Victoria's Plan B - going alone on sewage," May 31.
When the seven municipalities began working toward a common sewage treatment plan, who would have thought that sewage would lay bare the problems of our dysfunctional two-tier local governance system?
A collective approach to sewage treatment might or might not make sense; however, when the second tier of local government (Capital Regional District) became involved, common sense and accountability went out the window. Why would an organization without accountability across the seven municipalities bother to seek a "social licence" for its decisions?
The 15 sewage treatment committee members are the same CRD directors who represent their municipalities on the CRD board. Not one is accountable in any of the seven municipalities. Saanich, being the most populous, has five directors and Victoria has four, giving those two municipalities a majority on both the sewage committee and on financial votes on sewage treatment.
Where else could local politicians from one municipality try to impose sewage treatment facilities on another? Where is the accountability? Can we, as a region, do better than the CRD and multiple municipalities? The public in all 13 municipalities should be given an opportunity for a "non-binding" vote to see if they support an objective study of other municipal structuring options.
Colin Nielsen
Victoria
© Copyright Times Colonist
