Coun. Colin Plant publicly tempered expectations about amalgamation during MondayB次元官网网址檚 council meeting.
Speaking before council ratified a recommendation asking the provincial government to establish a citizensB次元官网网址� assembly on amalgamation, Plant cautioned the public against reading too much into this decision.
B次元官网网址淚 think people in the audience may think that means Saanich residents are ready to do it [amalgamation], and that this council is endorsing it,B次元官网网址� said Plant. B次元官网网址淚 think what we are endorsingB次元官网网址s having this process take place. I donB次元官网网址檛 think Saanich is particularly in a place where all we are waiting for is for our citizens to discover this. I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be surprised if this is a very difficult conversation that occurs.B次元官网网址�
Council, he said, made a B次元官网网址渧ery bold decisionB次元官网网址� in asking the provincial government for a citizensB次元官网网址� assembly on amalgamation. The recommendation first appeared in the final report of the (GRCAC), and councilB次元官网网址檚 committee-of-the-whole in December 2017.
A citizensB次元官网网址� assembly is a deliberative forum, which the provincial government defines as an B次元官网网址渋ndependent assembly of randomly selected individuals with a mandate to examine an issue over an extended period of time and make a recommendation to the Legislative Assembly.B次元官网网址�
Such a forum recommended set to be Against this backdrop, councilB次元官网网址檚 decision could appear as a precursor to amalgamation.
B次元官网网址淏ut I want to temper the notion that this council is saying tonight, B次元官网网址榳e are ready for amalgamation,B次元官网网址� and all we are waiting for is for the province to fund it and the City of Victoria to sit down with us,B次元官网网址� said Plant.
B次元官网网址淏ecause that is not where we are at. Where we are at is establishing a citizensB次元官网网址� forum and for them to have the very difficult discussion about blending two municipalities or moreB次元官网网址� although I think it would be very difficult beyond us and Victoria.B次元官网网址�
PlantB次元官网网址檚 comments also point to the issues that would be on the high list of any agenda discussing amalgamation. As Plant identified them, these B次元官网网址渧ery serious concernsB次元官网网址� include the protection of assets and potential financial abilities.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not afraid of having the conversation [about amalgamation],B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I just donB次元官网网址檛 want to people to assume that we are amalgamating, as soon as this citizensB次元官网网址� assembly gets together.B次元官网网址�
Shellie Gudgeon, president of Amalgamation Yes, agreed with PlantB次元官网网址檚 comments.
B次元官网网址淚 applaud Colin for setting the record straight on this,B次元官网网址� she said. What is needed first and foremost at this stage is data, she said.
B次元官网网址淲e are delighted that Saanich is taking a lead on pursuing this direction,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his needs to be addressed. We can and must do better about how we govern ourselves. In order to do, we need information. We need a public process to educate ourselves.B次元官网网址�
Council Monday also ratified a recommendation to launch talks about a regional police force.
