It is great to see the grass-roots democratic process, the CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly approved by a majority of Saanich and Victoria voters in October 2018, finally commence its deliberations.

What is not great to see is that Saanich Coun. Nathalie Chambers, who through the public comments recorded in a recent article, has chosen to ignore the commitment made by the elected officials of Saanich and Victoria in the Terms of Reference, a public document posted on the Victoria-Saanich CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly website www.victoriasaanich.ca. 

Under B次元官网网址淧hase 2, Roles and Responsibilities, Item 10,B次元官网网址� it states: B次元官网网址淭he District of Saanich and City of Victoria will respect and support the independence and integrity of the Assembly. Municipal elected officials and staff will remain at armB次元官网网址檚 length during deliberations of the Assembly and will not comment publicly on the work of the Assembly while the work is underway.B次元官网网址�

The specifics of the councillorB次元官网网址檚 comments and concerns in the article do not merit discussion in this forum and are best addressed during the deliberations of the CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly. It is the fact that comments on amalgamation were made by the elected official in the first place that is of issue.

As a concerned citizen who wants to ensure the CitizensB次元官网网址� Assembly process is free from political interference, the councillorB次元官网网址檚 violation of the terms of reference is distressing and it is hoped that going forward all councillors from both municipalities, including Nathalie Chambers, will abide by their commitment to the citizens who voted in favour of this impartial democratic process.

Doug Pascoe

Saanich