Residents in Saanich and Victoria will answer the same question, but receive different background information about the

For Shellie Gudgeon of Amalgamation Yes, that small difference could have huge consequences.

B次元官网网址淚 am a little discouraged that it appeared that both Saanich council and the bureaucracy of Saanich are trying to doom the question from the outset,B次元官网网址� she said.

Voters in both communities will answer the following question Oct. 20: B次元官网网址淎re you in favour of spending up to $250,000 for establishing a CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly to explore the costs, benefits and disadvantages of the amalgamation between the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria?B次元官网网址�

Butabout the referendum after Victoria council altered the document that Saanich and Victoria staff had previously developed. Saanich did not adopt those changes, a choice that could be fatal, according to Gudgeon.

B次元官网网址淲e, the voters, need something to vote for and Victoria council understood that,B次元官网网址� she said, in expressing a preference for the Victoria material. B次元官网网址淪aanich, on the other hand, seems, perhaps unwittingly, to be setting it (the question) up for failure.B次元官网网址�

The difference is symbolic of a larger problem across the Greater Victoria region with its 13 distinct municipalities, said Gudgeon.

B次元官网网址淚t does clearly illustrate the dysfunction of two councils and two bureaucracies trying to work together.B次元官网网址� If two communities find it almost impossible to be concise decisions, imagine 13, she said.

The Victoria document is not only longer, but also contains substantive differences.

Victoria explicitly spells out the referendum is not a referendum on amalgamation, a reference missing from Saanich. The documents also differ in describing the assemblyB次元官网网址檚 purpose.

B次元官网网址淭he scope of the CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly mandate has not yet been defined and would not be established until the District of Saanich has heard from its electors,B次元官网网址� reads SaanichB次元官网网址檚 document.

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 document claims the CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly members will develop a B次元官网网址渟et of valuesB次元官网网址� that describe their aspirations for local governance and B次元官网网址渁 list of issuesB次元官网网址� which B次元官网网址渢hey believe need to be satisfactorily resolved for municipal amalgamation to be considered.B次元官网网址�

Victoria also claims the assembly members would B次元官网网址渁dvise local councillors and their administrations on the conditions under which the [municipalities] should proceedB次元官网网址� if the assembly recommends amalgamation.

Coun. Judy Brownoff touched on this difference in expressing concerns about the Victoria material.

B次元官网网址淭hose types of processes wonB次元官网网址檛 happen until the choice of the voters to move forward,B次元官网网址� she said.

The documents also differ in other details.

VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 material suggests (without confirming) the assembly could consist out of 36 randomly selected individuals in citing the Duncan-North Cowichan CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly. SaanichB次元官网网址檚 document includes no such reference. This said, the public heard that figure during recent council deliberations.

Councillors last month unanimously approved SaanichB次元官网网址檚 material after making two minor amendments, but not before commenting on VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 document.

B次元官网网址淭his is the first time we have diverged a little,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Colin Plant, adding he respects VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 decision to deviate from the language that the two respective staffs had mutually agreed upon.

B次元官网网址淭hey [Victoria] have the opportunity to do,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he statement that we have is a strong statement that I think the public will have the information [to make a decision].B次元官网网址�

wolfgang.depner@saanichnews.com