by Roger Stonebanks, citizen journalist

Saanich Councillor Colin Plant

The issue of a provincial government-funded study of amalgamation/governance on southern Vancouver Island will hit Saanich council at its next meeting on May 25.

Coun. Colin Plant tabled a notice of motion “regarding provincially-funded amalgamation study” at council on Monday night (May 11, 2015). Coun. Fred Haynes has agreed to second Plant’s motion when it reaches council.

Plant’s motion calls on council to “write a letter to (Community) Minister Coralee Oakes indicating our willingness to participate in the study.” The letter will be developed by Mayor and Council with the assistance of staff.

“Prior to drafting the letter, residents will be invited to a public meeting to provide feedback for Mayor and Council as to what should be included in our letter.”

Plant’s motion states that the BC government “has agreed to do an amalgamation study for interested municipalities in the Capital Regional District” and that Saanich residents voted in favour of a “governance review.”

Saanich Councillor Fred Haynes

Last November, Saanich residents were polled in a question that specifically avoided the word “amalgamation.” It asked: “Do you support Council initiating a community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and our partnerships within the Region?” It passed 21,437 votes to 2,780 votes. There were 80,986 eligible voters.

Minister Oakes, in her most recent comment to Saanich Voice Online on April 24, 2015, also avoided using the word “amalgamation” in favour of “governance and service integration.”

She said: “The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development is in the process of considering how best to proceed regarding the results of the referenda in the Capital Region.

“The Ministry sees an opportunity to support a conversation on governance and service integration and has heard from some Mayors and Councils but needs to hear from others to gauge interest and better understand how to collaborate on this goal.

“Decisions about potential next steps will come out of the Province’s considerations and future discussions between local governments and the provincial government.”

Last December, Saanich council voted unanimously “That a governance review, in accordance

BC Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Coralee Oakes

with the motion on the ballot, be initiated as soon as possible, within a 90-day period.” Council also requested municipal staff “to

prepare a report, as soon as possible within a 90-day period, indicating how such a review might be structured and carried out in accordance with the motion on the ballot.”

Council is awaiting the staff report on the Saanich governance review.

Coun. Colin Plant told SVO, “The intent behind my motion is to take advantage of the fact the province is willing to fund an amalgamation study. It is not to determine Saanich’s own governance review. I fully support the municipality continuing to develop its own governance review as per our Nov. 15 plebiscite. It just seemed like common sense to me that we would participate given that there is no binding component to the study.

“Given that the report will be non-binding and at no direct cost to Saanich, I see no harm in us contributing information and learning from the study. I liken this to getting a quote from a business; just because one gets a quote, it doesn’t mean you have to act on it.

“The motion also requires council to have a public meeting where residents can tell council what they think should be in the letter we send to the province indicating our interest in participating in the study. The reason for this public meeting is that unlike other municipalities who put an amalgamation question on the ballot, Saanich did not. As such, I think the public should be afforded an opportunity to provide feedback before the municipality sends any comments to the province.

“I look forward to residents providing feedback to council on May 25.”

Coun. Fred Haynes replied to SVO, “Amalgamation study? What does it mean for Saanich? I look forward to hearing from the public on May 25 (in the new public participation format at start of council meetings) and our following discussion at council to explore the benefits of the information to be gained by the province-led study. I understand this study will examine options for service integration and the potentials possible from reorganization of our regional government – this includes a better understanding of our cost effectiveness and service efficiencies at the CRD and between and within our municipalities. This study would be in addition to our own community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and partnerships within the region. Presumably, joining the regional conversation (study) would let Saanich residents and council have some say in its format and the type of information collected and reviewed. Let’s find out.”

For earlier information and comments about amalgamation on the Saanich Peninsula and in Greater Victoria, please see:

Amalgamation Study for the Peninsula? April 23, 2015
Regional Collaboration – a work in progress March, 2015
Comment is Free, But Facts are Sacred April, 2015
Moving Amalgamation Forward, or Not January, 2015
Amalgamation – where do we go from here? December, 2014

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