The next step for regional amalgamation is in the hands of the province now that Greater Victoria voters have shown their support, says Amalgamation YesB次元官网网址� John Vickers.
B次元官网网址淭he issue took a big step forward with 75 per cent of voters in the region supporting the non-binding question (if it was on) SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 municipal election ballot,B次元官网网址� Vickers said. B次元官网网址淣ow itB次元官网网址檚 up to the province, the only way itB次元官网网址檚 going to fly is if we really do see leadership from them. We want to see an end run here.B次元官网网址�
Seven of eight Capital District municipalities voted yes to the non-binding question of amalgamation on Saturday, including Langford, whose question directly asked residents if they favoured amalgamation.
Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes of released a statement on Monday in response to the positive result saying itB次元官网网址檚 now in the process of reviewing the referendum results in greater detail.
B次元官网网址淚 remain committed to provide the support and resources required by the newly-elected local governments, once they have had an opportunity to discuss and review the results in greater detail.B次元官网网址�
Vickers said heB次元官网网址檚 had communications with the ministry but itB次元官网网址檚 imperative now to keep moving that forward.
B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檇 like to see is a commission with experts and insight into the various issues, to study and come up with two or three different models, which will hopefully lead to a provincially run referendum in 2018 or a binding municipal referendum.B次元官网网址�
It was outgoing Mayor Frank Leonard who framed SaanichB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址済overnance reviewB次元官网网址� question but it will be mayor-elect Richard Atwell and council overseeing its implement.
Atwell, who came to municipal politics through his work with the Sewage Treatment Action Group, is hesitant to pledge a direct allegiance to amalgamation but said his early focus on the matter would include a review on the Capital Regional District.
B次元官网网址淚f it reaches a review then one area IB次元官网网址檇 think would be considered is the election format for the CRD directors. Should they be elected directly?B次元官网网址� he asked.
B次元官网网址淭here is additional cost-savings to be had at the CRD level but IB次元官网网址檝e heard (amalgamation) wonB次元官网网址檛 necessarily save money B次元官网网址� the challenge is to retain the personal connection with residents, you donB次元官网网址檛 want to lose that balance.B次元官网网址�
One of AtwellB次元官网网址檚 campaign issues and now a priority is to open up council meetings to allow the public a chance to speak on non-agenda items, something he would want built in if Capital District moved to regional governance.
The other seven municipalities with a non-binding question on the ballot regarding amalgamation were North Saanich, Oak Bay, Central Saanich, Langford, Esquimalt, Victoria and Sidney, representing more than 86 per cent of regionB次元官网网址檚 population.
The questions varied slightly but most called for public consultation and a provincial study on amalgamation and regional governance.
Seventy-five per cent of the approximate 80,000 ballots voted in favour of a study.
The report stated Oak Bay was the only municipality to vote against it at 62 per cent. Langford came in a shade over 50 per cent in favour, while View Royal, Colwood, Highlands, Metchosin and Sooke, with a combined population of about 46,000, elected to not place a non-binding question on the ballot. However, Colwood will join a post-election study or review.
B次元官网网址淭he Oak Bay and Langford question didnB次元官网网址檛 have any consultation, it was B次元官网网址榃ill you marry me before the first date?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Vickers said.
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