by Roger Stonebanks, citizen journalist

Central Saanich council has called on North Saanich and Sidney councils and Community Minister Coralee Oakes to attend a “joint committee meeting” on provincial funding for a study or cost-benefit analysis of amalgamation of the peninsula municipalities.

“Council has resolved to invite the mayors and councils of the three municipalities and their citizens to attend and provide input at a joint meeting,” said Mayor Ryan Windsor of Central Saanich in a letter this month to Oakes who was invited to attend the joint meeting.

Following this joint municipal meeting, Windsor requested a meeting with Oakes “to discuss next steps including development of the Terms of Reference for the study. The mayors and chief administrative officers of the 3 municipalities will be invited to the follow-up meeting. In order to move forward, we ask that your staff provide us with dates and times you are available to attend the meeting.”

In a separate letter to Oakes, Windsor noted that Central Saanich voters approved the following question at the Nov. 15 election – “Should the District of Central Saanich petition the Province to fund a cost/benefit analysis of an amalgamation of Central Saanich, North Saanich and Sidney?”

North Saanich voters answered “yes” to this question – “Are you in favour of a study, provincially funded, to investigate the feasibility, costs and implications of amalgamating  the three municipalities on the Saanich Peninsula of Sidney, Central Saanich and North Saanich?”

Sidney voters approved this question – “Are you in favour of a provincially funded study to investigate the feasibility, costs and implications of amalgamating the three municipalities of the Saanich Peninsula?

Asked for comment, Oakes told SVO: “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.”

Mayor Alice Finall of North Saanich said, “The note from Central Saanich reflects the position of North Saanich. We have requested financing from the province so that the municipality can conduct a study.” (updated May 1, ’15)

Mayor Steve Price of Sidney was asked by SVO to comment on the Central Saanich letters but has not replied.

Meanwhile, Saanich council is waiting for a staff report before beginning its “governance review.” Voters said “yes” to this question last Nov. 15 – “Do you support Council initiating a community-based review of the governance structure and policies within Saanich and our partnerships within the Region?”

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