Amalgamation doesnB次元官网网址檛 appear to be on the minds of many in the West Shore.

With local elections approaching in November, municipalities across Greater Victoria are deciding whether to include a question on the ballot that would gauge votersB次元官网网址� interest in pursuing further some form of regional amalgamation.

Langford Coun. Lanny Seaton hasnB次元官网网址檛 heard a peep from city residents.

B次元官网网址淚 havenB次元官网网址檛 had anybody phone me and say B次元官网网址楬ey, this is a burning issue for me and Langford,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 speak for the rest of council, but I donB次元官网网址檛 think anybodyB次元官网网址檚 even considered it.B次元官网网址�

City of Victoria council voted to put a question on its ballot, while Oak Bay and Central Saanich councils  rejected the idea. Even the Capital Regional District decided not to ask member municipalities to include the query.

Throughout the West Shore, there seems little interest in exploring the issue, though the Town of View Royal is now leaning towards including a question. With a general atmosphere of support around the table, according to at least one councillor, View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 committee of the whole recommended that town staff look into options for doing so.

B次元官网网址淭he general consensus was some sort of question should go on the ballot,B次元官网网址� said Coun. John Rogers. B次元官网网址淪o thatB次元官网网址檚 interesting.B次元官网网址� The trick, he said, is to make sure the right question is asked.

Rogers said most agreed the question suggested by non-profit group , B次元官网网址淎re you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?B次元官网网址� is too broad and potentially leading.

Colwood turned to residents for input on including a ballot question, but a callout for people to serve on a focus group looking at the issue produced only a handful of responses.

Nonetheless, applicants will be interviewed starting this week and the callout remains open.

Mayor Carol Hamilton said itB次元官网网址檚 best to get a sense from the community whether or not a question concerning amalgamation is desired, to avoid potentially spending money on something nobody wants.

Council has voted in favour of having a question, but Hamilton said if it turns out the public interest isnB次元官网网址檛 there, it may not happen.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e cautious about budget implications on things, but we want to ensure that if this is the direction the general populace wants to start taking things, then how do we get there?B次元官网网址�

Out in Metchosin, Mayor John Ranns expressed a similar sentiment, noting that if residents arenB次元官网网址檛 interested in amalgamation, why spend the money to explore it?

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had absolutely no interest from the public,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a single indication that anybody wants to see this on the ballot.B次元官网网址�

If public support isnB次元官网网址檛 forthcoming, Ranns canB次元官网网址檛 imagine the district will go ahead with a question. While he isnB次元官网网址檛 entirely opposed to the idea of amalgamation, he said the province should never impose it in any form without first hearing from the public.

B次元官网网址淚 do believe that amalgamation done right can have positive benefits,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut amalgamation done wrong is going to be far worse than what we have now.B次元官网网址�

kwells@goldstreamgazette.com