The fact that fewer than one in four vote in municipal elections is a problem. It is a problem caused by the fact that few care about a small community organization.
Think about how many people actually come out and vote for the directors or help organize community organizations such as BARA or the North Quadra Land Use Protection Association. As a percentage of the population it is very small.
Our municipalities are the same. They are in fact not much more than residential associations. The CRD deals with some of the bigger issues. This may be a bit exaggerated but the point is clear. Without a regional government which we all know affects the whole region, we are not going to get too excited about voting.
Instead of 91 elected representatives making in most cases a nominal part time income, there could be 12 full time positions paying a “living wage”.
That might create interest in the campaign.
If we want more interest in what the local government is doing and who is doing it, a step in the right direction will be to focus on fewer positions and without doubt fewer competent candidates.
An entire community focused on the same issues can create interest.
If you live in Saanich and work in Victoria with people from Langford, do you really care what the issues are in the Langford election? Not really. Are you going to talk about them, and encourage each other to get out and vote? No.
Now if we were all concerned about the same issues, we might just start all talking about them and in turn create community interest.
We do not have community interest because we are all blended together daily and yet are forced to have “different elections.” No one, not one person here can say they have no one in their lives that does not live in another city. Most of us have friends all over. This fact helps reduce the interest of everyone in an election. We have no common ground to talk about the issues and the candidates’ positions on them.
No promise here, but it is a good and reasonable bet that an amalgamated city or two will generate a somewhat higher interest in elections and participation by the electorate.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Numerous Police Agencies Needed to Deal With Just a Few People
The idea was to find and arrest drug dealers who frequent downtown. It was reported on October 6, 2010 that to do so:
1. Victoria police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team arrested a Saanich man and a Nanaimo man in Saanich and View Royal.
2. Victoria police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team raided a Langford home, with help from the West Shore RCMP and the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
There is a problem here. It is obvious that the extra effort in our small city, of having to coordinate all these different organizations, should not be required and gives a huge advantage to the criminals we seek to be protected from.
1. Victoria police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team arrested a Saanich man and a Nanaimo man in Saanich and View Royal.
2. Victoria police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team raided a Langford home, with help from the West Shore RCMP and the RCMP Emergency Response Team.
There is a problem here. It is obvious that the extra effort in our small city, of having to coordinate all these different organizations, should not be required and gives a huge advantage to the criminals we seek to be protected from.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Why Amalgamating Policing is NOT Enough
If it were thought that simply amalgamating policing might be a good idea and thus reduce the need to amalgamate the cities, one need only see what happened in Victoria/Esquimalt to see why this is not sufficient.
Esquimalt refused to pay $400,000.00 towards the policing budget for the two cities. Victoria was then required to make submissions to the BC Government, which in turn was required to spend time and resources considering the issue and in the result ordered that Esquimalt pay anyway.
At least pay most of it. They can now avoid paying, from $9,000 to $11,000, for their share of two extra officers.
So while the two cities share policing services, there are now different levels of service being offered and paid for in the two cities by the same department. The amount may be small but it is the start of differing level of service being mandated by the fact that each council wishes to pay a different amount. Perhaps the services are offered equitably but now Victoria is paying for services given to Esquimalt.
It is pointless to have the debate, at this level as to who should pay. Certainly the Police Board can debate the issue as can the city council, but to then have this level of counterproductive disputes cries out for the need to amalgamate the Cities of Victoria and Esquimalt.
Perhaps we could at least start there and then look further afield.
Esquimalt refused to pay $400,000.00 towards the policing budget for the two cities. Victoria was then required to make submissions to the BC Government, which in turn was required to spend time and resources considering the issue and in the result ordered that Esquimalt pay anyway.
At least pay most of it. They can now avoid paying, from $9,000 to $11,000, for their share of two extra officers.
So while the two cities share policing services, there are now different levels of service being offered and paid for in the two cities by the same department. The amount may be small but it is the start of differing level of service being mandated by the fact that each council wishes to pay a different amount. Perhaps the services are offered equitably but now Victoria is paying for services given to Esquimalt.
It is pointless to have the debate, at this level as to who should pay. Certainly the Police Board can debate the issue as can the city council, but to then have this level of counterproductive disputes cries out for the need to amalgamate the Cities of Victoria and Esquimalt.
Perhaps we could at least start there and then look further afield.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Further Comments on TC Article
Our fractured forces: Is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?
After decades of jurisdictional squabbling, and three deadly tragedies, is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?
By Lindsay Kines, Katie Derosa and Jack Knox, Times Colonist September 22, 2010
I have added some personal comments on the article last posted from the TC as follows (my comments are capitalised):
A subsequent coroner's inquest recommended the "continued unification of the various police departments" in Greater Victoria.
ONE REASON THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED IS THAT THERE IS NO WILL AMONG THE ELECTED COUNSELLORS TO PURSUE THIS AS IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LEAD TO A REVIEW OF THE EXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES.
Now, growing numbers of current and retired police officers, criminologists and politicians say it's time for B.C. to put public safety ahead of politics, shed the province's fractured policing model, and establish regional forces in major metropolitan areas.
CLEARLY GREATER VICTORIA IS A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA WHICH IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED ORGANISATION WHICH MINIMISES ANY CHANCE OF JURISDICTIONAL CONFLICT.
"And the reason that it will continue is there are just too many bosses," he says. "The RCMP have bosses that are beholden way back to Ottawa. You have municipal bosses that have their own little kingdoms. Albeit, I was one of them and you're only concerned about your area. You're only accountable to your police board. You only care, really, what happens within the boundaries of your jurisdiction."
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY TRUE AS NOTED BY THE QUOTES LATER ON IN THE ARTICLE FROM MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. DEPARTMENTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THEIR INTERNAL SUCCESS IN ADDRESSING CRIME IN THEIR AREA REGARDLESS OF WHAT OCCURS NEXT DOOR.
On the Lower Mainland alone, there are at least 15 RCMP and municipal police jurisdictions delivering service to two million people. In Greater Victoria, four municipal departments, three RCMP detachments and three 911 dispatch centres serve just 350,000 people.
By contrast, Toronto's 2.6 million population is policed by a single force, as are all other major metropolitan areas in Canada.
"It's now subject-matter based as opposed to based on a geographical area," says Pecknold, who is deputy chief of Central Saanich police. "That's why the border doesn't matter anymore."
IF THIS IS TRUE , WHY HAVE NUMEROUS POLICE CHIEFS AND INSPECTORS WITHIN THE SAME AREA?
But critics say the integrated units only highlight the problems. With so many chiefs trying to find consensus on key crime-fighting issues, the units often take months to establish. They add more layers of bureaucracy, and attempt to blend the different RCMP and municipal cultures -- sometimes with mixed results.
WHILE I DO NOT HAVE THE DETAILS, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN REGIONAL UNITS DESIRED BY SOME DEPARTMENTS BUT WHICH ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY OTHERS, OR UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN STARTED BUT THEN HAVE SOME DEPARTMENTS PULL OUT.
Greater Victoria has more than a dozen integrated units, ranging from the 18-officer Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit to a single officer working with exploited youth. Yet there are only two locally developed teams with participation from all capital region departments: the new domestic violence unit, and mental health mobile crisis response team.
THIS REFLECTS THE COMMENT ABOVE.
"These type of incidents will continue to happen no matter how often these police leaders get out there, and say, 'No, we've fixed it. It'll never happen again. Integration is the way to go,' " he said. "That's just a Band-Aid approach. A complete Band-Aid approach to policing here in British Columbia."
Saanich police Chief Mike Chadwick, a 35-year veteran of the force and a staunch defender of the status quo, argues that individual municipalities have the right to "direct the level of service ... from their police department" and that municipal taxpayers should have a say on the type policing they want.
"I'm not so sure if you had a regional department that would be the case," he says. "In Saanich, people pay for a service that we have provided for over 100 years now and they come to expect that.
"Saanich taxpayers don't expect to pay for what goes on downtown."
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO CHIEF CHADWICK, WHOM I KNOW TO BE AN EXCELLENT OFFICER, AS A TAXPAYER IN SAANICH AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE SAANICH POLICE BOARD, I FOR ONE AM WILLING TO PAY FOR WHAT GOES ON DOWNTOWN AND SO ARE MANY OTHERS IN SAANICH. REMEMBER, OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES GO DOWNTOWN AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL AND BE SAFE. TO SUGGEST WE SHOULD NOT PAY FOR IT, IS SIMPLY WRONG.
TO SUGGEST, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, AND THERE IS NONE THAT I AM AWARE OF, THAT THE RESIDENTS OF SAANICH DO NOT EXPECT TO PAY FOR WHAT GOES ON DOWNTOWN OR THAT IMPLICITLY THEY DO NOT SUPPORT AMALGAMATION, IS NOT HELPFUL TO A FAIR REVIEW OF THE ISSUE.
Saanich Insp. Bob Downie says he's puzzled by arguments in favour of a regional force.
"You rarely hear people talk about what it is they're fixing," he said. "This whole conversation is around solutions that are looking for a problem. But you never really hear any specific problems that are being remedied.
"In this area, we have traditionally brought people together when we've identified a need to do that. There haven't really been examples of where that hasn't been the case."
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO INSPECTOR DOWNIE WHOM I ALSO KNOW TO BE AN EXCELLENT OFFICER, WE ARE FIXING A RISK OF HARM. IF THE LEE CASE WERE TO OCCUR AGAIN, MIGHT A BLEEDING VICTIM BE SAVED IF A COORDINATED DEPARTMENT WERE TO BE ABLE TO ACT AND ENTER THE HOME MORE QUICKLY THAN OCCURRED? THE POINT IS NOT THAT LIVES WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IN THE LEE CASE WITH AMALGAMATION. THE POINT IS THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT WONDER IF THE SYSTEM WAS AT FAULT. THAT CONCERN SHOULD NOT EXIST AND IT DOES.
WHEN I CALL ANY OFFICE IN GREATER VICTORIA I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEEK HELP REGARDING ANY ISSUE IN THE CITY. THAT IS NOT THE CASE NOW.
THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME WASTED ON DEPATEMENTS BEING IN CONFLICT ON DECIDING WHICH RECORDS OR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TO BE USED.
OFFICERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO APPLY TO MOVE FROM VICTORIA TO SAANICH. OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT THAT A REGIONAL FORCE CAN PROVIDE.
OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON ALL AREAS OF THE CITY AND THE CRIMES WHICH ARE OCCURRING THERE.
Graham, who also served as chief of Vancouver police, said it simply makes sense to have a regional force chasing and apprehending criminals who don't respect political boundaries.
"This isn't about cost," he says. "This is about the ability to deploy more effectively."
OF COURSE THE POLICE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEPLOY MORE EFFECTIVELY BY USING A REGIONAL FORCE EFFECTIVELY. WILL SOME PROBLEMS BE OVERLOOKED IN THE PROCESS? I EXPECT YES, HOWEVER THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ALL IS OF GREATER BENEFIT.
After decades of jurisdictional squabbling, and three deadly tragedies, is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?
By Lindsay Kines, Katie Derosa and Jack Knox, Times Colonist September 22, 2010
I have added some personal comments on the article last posted from the TC as follows (my comments are capitalised):
A subsequent coroner's inquest recommended the "continued unification of the various police departments" in Greater Victoria.
ONE REASON THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED IS THAT THERE IS NO WILL AMONG THE ELECTED COUNSELLORS TO PURSUE THIS AS IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY LEAD TO A REVIEW OF THE EXISTENCE OF MULTIPLE MUNICIPALITIES.
Now, growing numbers of current and retired police officers, criminologists and politicians say it's time for B.C. to put public safety ahead of politics, shed the province's fractured policing model, and establish regional forces in major metropolitan areas.
CLEARLY GREATER VICTORIA IS A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA WHICH IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED ORGANISATION WHICH MINIMISES ANY CHANCE OF JURISDICTIONAL CONFLICT.
"And the reason that it will continue is there are just too many bosses," he says. "The RCMP have bosses that are beholden way back to Ottawa. You have municipal bosses that have their own little kingdoms. Albeit, I was one of them and you're only concerned about your area. You're only accountable to your police board. You only care, really, what happens within the boundaries of your jurisdiction."
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY TRUE AS NOTED BY THE QUOTES LATER ON IN THE ARTICLE FROM MUNICIPAL OFFICERS. DEPARTMENTS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THEIR INTERNAL SUCCESS IN ADDRESSING CRIME IN THEIR AREA REGARDLESS OF WHAT OCCURS NEXT DOOR.
On the Lower Mainland alone, there are at least 15 RCMP and municipal police jurisdictions delivering service to two million people. In Greater Victoria, four municipal departments, three RCMP detachments and three 911 dispatch centres serve just 350,000 people.
By contrast, Toronto's 2.6 million population is policed by a single force, as are all other major metropolitan areas in Canada.
"It's now subject-matter based as opposed to based on a geographical area," says Pecknold, who is deputy chief of Central Saanich police. "That's why the border doesn't matter anymore."
IF THIS IS TRUE , WHY HAVE NUMEROUS POLICE CHIEFS AND INSPECTORS WITHIN THE SAME AREA?
But critics say the integrated units only highlight the problems. With so many chiefs trying to find consensus on key crime-fighting issues, the units often take months to establish. They add more layers of bureaucracy, and attempt to blend the different RCMP and municipal cultures -- sometimes with mixed results.
WHILE I DO NOT HAVE THE DETAILS, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THERE HAVE IN THE PAST BEEN REGIONAL UNITS DESIRED BY SOME DEPARTMENTS BUT WHICH ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY OTHERS, OR UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN STARTED BUT THEN HAVE SOME DEPARTMENTS PULL OUT.
Greater Victoria has more than a dozen integrated units, ranging from the 18-officer Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit to a single officer working with exploited youth. Yet there are only two locally developed teams with participation from all capital region departments: the new domestic violence unit, and mental health mobile crisis response team.
THIS REFLECTS THE COMMENT ABOVE.
"These type of incidents will continue to happen no matter how often these police leaders get out there, and say, 'No, we've fixed it. It'll never happen again. Integration is the way to go,' " he said. "That's just a Band-Aid approach. A complete Band-Aid approach to policing here in British Columbia."
Saanich police Chief Mike Chadwick, a 35-year veteran of the force and a staunch defender of the status quo, argues that individual municipalities have the right to "direct the level of service ... from their police department" and that municipal taxpayers should have a say on the type policing they want.
"I'm not so sure if you had a regional department that would be the case," he says. "In Saanich, people pay for a service that we have provided for over 100 years now and they come to expect that.
"Saanich taxpayers don't expect to pay for what goes on downtown."
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO CHIEF CHADWICK, WHOM I KNOW TO BE AN EXCELLENT OFFICER, AS A TAXPAYER IN SAANICH AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE SAANICH POLICE BOARD, I FOR ONE AM WILLING TO PAY FOR WHAT GOES ON DOWNTOWN AND SO ARE MANY OTHERS IN SAANICH. REMEMBER, OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES GO DOWNTOWN AND I WANT THEM TO FEEL AND BE SAFE. TO SUGGEST WE SHOULD NOT PAY FOR IT, IS SIMPLY WRONG.
TO SUGGEST, WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE, AND THERE IS NONE THAT I AM AWARE OF, THAT THE RESIDENTS OF SAANICH DO NOT EXPECT TO PAY FOR WHAT GOES ON DOWNTOWN OR THAT IMPLICITLY THEY DO NOT SUPPORT AMALGAMATION, IS NOT HELPFUL TO A FAIR REVIEW OF THE ISSUE.
Saanich Insp. Bob Downie says he's puzzled by arguments in favour of a regional force.
"You rarely hear people talk about what it is they're fixing," he said. "This whole conversation is around solutions that are looking for a problem. But you never really hear any specific problems that are being remedied.
"In this area, we have traditionally brought people together when we've identified a need to do that. There haven't really been examples of where that hasn't been the case."
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO INSPECTOR DOWNIE WHOM I ALSO KNOW TO BE AN EXCELLENT OFFICER, WE ARE FIXING A RISK OF HARM. IF THE LEE CASE WERE TO OCCUR AGAIN, MIGHT A BLEEDING VICTIM BE SAVED IF A COORDINATED DEPARTMENT WERE TO BE ABLE TO ACT AND ENTER THE HOME MORE QUICKLY THAN OCCURRED? THE POINT IS NOT THAT LIVES WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IN THE LEE CASE WITH AMALGAMATION. THE POINT IS THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT WONDER IF THE SYSTEM WAS AT FAULT. THAT CONCERN SHOULD NOT EXIST AND IT DOES.
WHEN I CALL ANY OFFICE IN GREATER VICTORIA I SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEEK HELP REGARDING ANY ISSUE IN THE CITY. THAT IS NOT THE CASE NOW.
THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME WASTED ON DEPATEMENTS BEING IN CONFLICT ON DECIDING WHICH RECORDS OR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TO BE USED.
OFFICERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO APPLY TO MOVE FROM VICTORIA TO SAANICH. OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT THAT A REGIONAL FORCE CAN PROVIDE.
OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON ALL AREAS OF THE CITY AND THE CRIMES WHICH ARE OCCURRING THERE.
Graham, who also served as chief of Vancouver police, said it simply makes sense to have a regional force chasing and apprehending criminals who don't respect political boundaries.
"This isn't about cost," he says. "This is about the ability to deploy more effectively."
OF COURSE THE POLICE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEPLOY MORE EFFECTIVELY BY USING A REGIONAL FORCE EFFECTIVELY. WILL SOME PROBLEMS BE OVERLOOKED IN THE PROCESS? I EXPECT YES, HOWEVER THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT TO DEAL EFFECTIVELY WITH ISSUES THAT AFFECT US ALL IS OF GREATER BENEFIT.
Another Relevant TC Article
Our fractured forces: Is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?
After decades of jurisdictional squabbling, and three deadly tragedies, is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?
By Lindsay Kines, Katie Derosa and Jack Knox, Times Colonist September 22, 2010
An in depth article on policing including the problems in the Peter Lee case where his wife bounced among three police departments while trying to get help for spousal abuse. On the night of the murders, the grandmother's 911 call was handled by a maze of dispatchers, while dozens of police officers from Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay responded to the call.
A Victoria police officer could be heard saying over the radio: "This is ugly. It looks like there isn't anyone taking control at all."
The coroner's inquest recommended the "continued unification of the various police departments" in Greater Victoria.
"It mystifies me," former Ottawa police chief Vince Bevan says of B.C.'s balkanized system. "It's beyond me how they can have these series of smaller departments, and think that they're meeting standards."
Greater Victoria has more than a dozen integrated units, ranging from the 18-officer Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit to a single officer working with exploited youth. Yet there are only two locally developed teams with participation from all capital region departments: the new domestic violence unit, and mental health mobile crisis response team.
"This isn't about cost,"
"This is about the ability to deploy more effectively."
Read the TC article for the full story
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/fractured+forces+time+overhaul+police+system/3560864/story.html#ixzz10ybcxGp9
After decades of jurisdictional squabbling, and three deadly tragedies, is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?
By Lindsay Kines, Katie Derosa and Jack Knox, Times Colonist September 22, 2010
An in depth article on policing including the problems in the Peter Lee case where his wife bounced among three police departments while trying to get help for spousal abuse. On the night of the murders, the grandmother's 911 call was handled by a maze of dispatchers, while dozens of police officers from Victoria, Saanich and Oak Bay responded to the call.
A Victoria police officer could be heard saying over the radio: "This is ugly. It looks like there isn't anyone taking control at all."
The coroner's inquest recommended the "continued unification of the various police departments" in Greater Victoria.
"It mystifies me," former Ottawa police chief Vince Bevan says of B.C.'s balkanized system. "It's beyond me how they can have these series of smaller departments, and think that they're meeting standards."
Greater Victoria has more than a dozen integrated units, ranging from the 18-officer Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit to a single officer working with exploited youth. Yet there are only two locally developed teams with participation from all capital region departments: the new domestic violence unit, and mental health mobile crisis response team.
"This isn't about cost,"
"This is about the ability to deploy more effectively."
Read the TC article for the full story
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/fractured+forces+time+overhaul+police+system/3560864/story.html#ixzz10ybcxGp9
No Greater Victoria Police Department in Control
The following article from the Times Colonist reflects a strong reason for Amalgamation
Patchwork policing: 3 case studies
TIMES COLONISTSEPTEMBER 22, 2010
CASE STUDY 2007
PETER LEE
NO ONE FORCE IN CONTROL OF 'UGLY' CASE
The article makes a number of valid points including:
Nowhere on Vancouver Island are the failings of the fractured, multi-jurisdictional policing system more apparent than in the Oak Bay murder-suicide in 2007 that left five people dead.
At one point a 911 call, was rerouted to Victoria dispatch instead of Saanich, which covers calls for Oak Bay.
Oak Bay police did not enter the home; they waited for Saanich backup.
Two Saanich officers arrived, and they entered the house with one of the Oak Bay officers to find two bodies and a barricaded bedroom door. The three retreated after smelling gas, fearing an explosion. The Emergency Response Team, led by a Victoria officer, was called in.
There were three departments in the mix, but no one seemed to be leading the charge. Victoria police Sgt. Andy Lacon said over the radio: "This is ugly, it looks like there isn't anyone taking control at all."
The spotty CREST radio system, picking up little signal in the King George Terrace area, also hampered the various forces from communicating. As well, some officers were using Saanich's radio frequency, while others used Victoria's.
In the end, a total of 44 officers and dispatchers from three departments and two call centres had handled the case.
The coroner's inquest, which wrapped up in December 2009 recommended that "all police departments work across jurisdictional boundaries as one unit" and called for "continued unification of the various police departments."
The region still has three dispatch systems and seven police forces.
Patchwork policing: 3 case studies
TIMES COLONISTSEPTEMBER 22, 2010
CASE STUDY 2007
PETER LEE
NO ONE FORCE IN CONTROL OF 'UGLY' CASE
The article makes a number of valid points including:
Nowhere on Vancouver Island are the failings of the fractured, multi-jurisdictional policing system more apparent than in the Oak Bay murder-suicide in 2007 that left five people dead.
At one point a 911 call, was rerouted to Victoria dispatch instead of Saanich, which covers calls for Oak Bay.
Oak Bay police did not enter the home; they waited for Saanich backup.
Two Saanich officers arrived, and they entered the house with one of the Oak Bay officers to find two bodies and a barricaded bedroom door. The three retreated after smelling gas, fearing an explosion. The Emergency Response Team, led by a Victoria officer, was called in.
There were three departments in the mix, but no one seemed to be leading the charge. Victoria police Sgt. Andy Lacon said over the radio: "This is ugly, it looks like there isn't anyone taking control at all."
The spotty CREST radio system, picking up little signal in the King George Terrace area, also hampered the various forces from communicating. As well, some officers were using Saanich's radio frequency, while others used Victoria's.
In the end, a total of 44 officers and dispatchers from three departments and two call centres had handled the case.
The coroner's inquest, which wrapped up in December 2009 recommended that "all police departments work across jurisdictional boundaries as one unit" and called for "continued unification of the various police departments."
The region still has three dispatch systems and seven police forces.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Garbage waits while different Governments ponder
Garbage waits while different Governments ponder
Saanich and Victoria are thinking of changing their garbage collection service. Yet they are waiting to decide what to do. Why? Because the CRD is making changes too and they deal with recycling while the cities deal with garbage.
Simple issues, complex decision making. Certainly the issues should be fully reviewed and decisions thoughtfully made, but clearly, having different levels of government and different municipalities in such close proximity dealing with the same issues is well, poor government.
These are important issues for municipalities. The idea that there are 14 different entities in our area all having to consider the issues and all having potentially different resolutions, is simply untenable, a waste of time and resources. Would it not make more sense for one entity to consider the issues, debate as required and implement the best model for the “city.”
Saanich and Victoria are thinking of changing their garbage collection service. Yet they are waiting to decide what to do. Why? Because the CRD is making changes too and they deal with recycling while the cities deal with garbage.
Simple issues, complex decision making. Certainly the issues should be fully reviewed and decisions thoughtfully made, but clearly, having different levels of government and different municipalities in such close proximity dealing with the same issues is well, poor government.
These are important issues for municipalities. The idea that there are 14 different entities in our area all having to consider the issues and all having potentially different resolutions, is simply untenable, a waste of time and resources. Would it not make more sense for one entity to consider the issues, debate as required and implement the best model for the “city.”
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Quote from the Vancouver Sun regarding policing and the need to amalgamate
August 24, 2010
One of the most pressing issues, he said, is the patchwork system of municipal departments and RCMP detachments on the Lower Mainland and Greater Victoria. LePard concludes that many of the jurisdictional barriers that helped derail the Pickton investigation would have been moot if there had been a regional police force on the Lower Mainland.
"No one would ever design a policing system that had multiple agencies responsible for one metropolitan area," Rossmo said. "You'd never do that, so the reason we have it is a product of history, chance and politics.... I don't think the provincial government has ever done a really proper, thorough analysis of this subject."
One of the most pressing issues, he said, is the patchwork system of municipal departments and RCMP detachments on the Lower Mainland and Greater Victoria. LePard concludes that many of the jurisdictional barriers that helped derail the Pickton investigation would have been moot if there had been a regional police force on the Lower Mainland.
"No one would ever design a policing system that had multiple agencies responsible for one metropolitan area," Rossmo said. "You'd never do that, so the reason we have it is a product of history, chance and politics.... I don't think the provincial government has ever done a really proper, thorough analysis of this subject."
Monday, June 21, 2010
Winnipeg
I was just back in Winnipeg.
They are building a new rapid bus lane from downtown, into what use to be Fort Rouge and then on into the former Fort Garry. The City decided this was needed and it is proceeding. For Victoria, it would be like building a special bus lane from Victoria, through Esquimalt and into View Royal. The chances of that happening here in the foreseeable future are nil.
They are moving their football stadium from the west end to the south end. Why? Because it makes sense and they do not have to bicker over doing the right thing. (That is not to say there may not have been some issues - but the old location certainly had traffic flow issues).
Many years ago they built a ditch around the city (a flood way) to protect it from the Red River flooding (yes perhaps the Province did most of this) but it is an apt analogy for Victoria.
Here, if we were to pursue some regional preventative skeem, it would likely apply to some cities and not others. Image a protective ditch that had three major holes in it. Far from useful, but that is what we have often have (not always) when it comes to things that have an impact beyond the block we live on. Policing is different, fire protection is different, land use decisions are different, garbage disposal is different, support for the arts is different, so much which should not be different in our city simply is.
Winnipeg with a population of 680,000 has one city council.
Victoria, well, you know.
They are building a new rapid bus lane from downtown, into what use to be Fort Rouge and then on into the former Fort Garry. The City decided this was needed and it is proceeding. For Victoria, it would be like building a special bus lane from Victoria, through Esquimalt and into View Royal. The chances of that happening here in the foreseeable future are nil.
They are moving their football stadium from the west end to the south end. Why? Because it makes sense and they do not have to bicker over doing the right thing. (That is not to say there may not have been some issues - but the old location certainly had traffic flow issues).
Many years ago they built a ditch around the city (a flood way) to protect it from the Red River flooding (yes perhaps the Province did most of this) but it is an apt analogy for Victoria.
Here, if we were to pursue some regional preventative skeem, it would likely apply to some cities and not others. Image a protective ditch that had three major holes in it. Far from useful, but that is what we have often have (not always) when it comes to things that have an impact beyond the block we live on. Policing is different, fire protection is different, land use decisions are different, garbage disposal is different, support for the arts is different, so much which should not be different in our city simply is.
Winnipeg with a population of 680,000 has one city council.
Victoria, well, you know.
Rail Crossing a Regional Issue
The City of Victoria may drop the rail line across the Blue Bridge due to the cost.
That makes sense to those in Victoria.
It makes no sense to those in the Western Communities.
This is another example how a City, representing all interests, could do what is best for the City, not just for a small part of it.
If there is value to having a rail line (which I do not know), then it would likely be far better to have it cross the water than stop on the western side.
A City council should consider the merits and if it is worthwhile, move forward, with the cost born by all the citizens. However this will only happen if we had one City council, not 13.
That makes sense to those in Victoria.
It makes no sense to those in the Western Communities.
This is another example how a City, representing all interests, could do what is best for the City, not just for a small part of it.
If there is value to having a rail line (which I do not know), then it would likely be far better to have it cross the water than stop on the western side.
A City council should consider the merits and if it is worthwhile, move forward, with the cost born by all the citizens. However this will only happen if we had one City council, not 13.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 8, 2010 Esquimalt says they do not want to pay for any increased costs of Policing.
Imagine if the faculty of Science said to the University of Victoria that they did not want to share in any increased cost of campus security so they could keep tuition costs down. Then, when they think of it more, they realize that:
1. Any past security problems have not been in their buildings but on other areas of campus
2. They could hire another company to provide the service they think they need at a reduced cost.
3. So they decide to go on their own with respect to campus security.
The fact that the University as a whole would not save any money, if the one area backs out, does not affect the faculty of Science as they are able to keep the costs down for their own students.
The safety of the Science students, when they are outside of the faculty buildings is of course an issue for others, perhaps the Science students would be well advised to just not leave the Science buildings.
Seems silly does it not? In fact seems plainly illogical. However this is exactly what we have in Victoria and it is getting worse.
On May 8, 2010 Esquimalt is reported to say that they do not want to pay for any increased costs of Policing. In fact it’s even suggested that Esquimalt should contract out their policing, which likely takes us back to the days before those two loan municipalities were told to merge the police.
This is such a poor use of political and staff time. You have the City of Victoria writing to Esquimalt and the Province, audits being undertaken of Esquimalt policing, each municipality meeting with the police board and with each other. You have two groups fighting to control the police.
Clearly, there should be one city controlling one police department. Perhaps in the region there will be three cities controlling three police departments. Whatever the final result, the insanity of the arguments over policing should compel the province to act. They cannot just amalgamate the police, which we need. They would then be torn asunder by the different regional masters. They must amalgamate the region.
Or, do you think, if Esquimalt is right, we should divide Saanich into five cities? Then each pocket can decide what kind of service they want to pay for. The criminals would appreciate it.
1. Any past security problems have not been in their buildings but on other areas of campus
2. They could hire another company to provide the service they think they need at a reduced cost.
3. So they decide to go on their own with respect to campus security.
The fact that the University as a whole would not save any money, if the one area backs out, does not affect the faculty of Science as they are able to keep the costs down for their own students.
The safety of the Science students, when they are outside of the faculty buildings is of course an issue for others, perhaps the Science students would be well advised to just not leave the Science buildings.
Seems silly does it not? In fact seems plainly illogical. However this is exactly what we have in Victoria and it is getting worse.
On May 8, 2010 Esquimalt is reported to say that they do not want to pay for any increased costs of Policing. In fact it’s even suggested that Esquimalt should contract out their policing, which likely takes us back to the days before those two loan municipalities were told to merge the police.
This is such a poor use of political and staff time. You have the City of Victoria writing to Esquimalt and the Province, audits being undertaken of Esquimalt policing, each municipality meeting with the police board and with each other. You have two groups fighting to control the police.
Clearly, there should be one city controlling one police department. Perhaps in the region there will be three cities controlling three police departments. Whatever the final result, the insanity of the arguments over policing should compel the province to act. They cannot just amalgamate the police, which we need. They would then be torn asunder by the different regional masters. They must amalgamate the region.
Or, do you think, if Esquimalt is right, we should divide Saanich into five cities? Then each pocket can decide what kind of service they want to pay for. The criminals would appreciate it.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Businesses ask for voting rights
The business lobby is pushing for voting rights in municipal elections. Like many controversial issues, there are arguments for and against both sides.
My initial reaction is that if they get voting rights then everyone with an economic interest in a given municipality should also receive a vote. As an example, I live in Saanich but work in Victoria. So, I should get to vote in Victoria's elections, right?
Regardless of the various positions one can take on this issue, one has the sense that the "business vote" could be largely addressed through amalgamation. Many small business owners have shops in downtown Victoria and yet live in Oak Bay or Saanich. If the region was amalgamated, those owners would get to vote for or against the elected officials who set the property tax rates for downtown businesses.
What do you think?
My initial reaction is that if they get voting rights then everyone with an economic interest in a given municipality should also receive a vote. As an example, I live in Saanich but work in Victoria. So, I should get to vote in Victoria's elections, right?
Regardless of the various positions one can take on this issue, one has the sense that the "business vote" could be largely addressed through amalgamation. Many small business owners have shops in downtown Victoria and yet live in Oak Bay or Saanich. If the region was amalgamated, those owners would get to vote for or against the elected officials who set the property tax rates for downtown businesses.
What do you think?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Victoria asks Saanich for money
On March 8, 2010 a Victoria counselor attended a Saanich meeting to ask for money to help pay for the operation of Our Place, a Victoria facility which helps street people. The basis of the request was that the facility helps people from the entire region and Saanich, being a large part of the region should help out.
The money has already been fronted by Victoria.
This is another waste of time for elected officials having to go to other cities to obtain funding which logically should have been part of the region, as a city, budget.
Operations such as Our Place are clearly regional and it should not be necessary to send envoys out to ask for money. One city, one counsel could have resolved this quickly and efficiently.
The money has already been fronted by Victoria.
This is another waste of time for elected officials having to go to other cities to obtain funding which logically should have been part of the region, as a city, budget.
Operations such as Our Place are clearly regional and it should not be necessary to send envoys out to ask for money. One city, one counsel could have resolved this quickly and efficiently.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Lee inquest and amalgamation
Aleck Trawick wrote to the Times Colonist a letter which included comments such as:
The testimony at the Lee inquest makes it clear that Sunny Park, attempting to save her life and that of her six-year-old son, was shuffled from West Shore RCMP to Victoria police to Oak Bay police to report her husband tried to kill her and would again. They didn't co-ordinate.
When he showed up, the call went to Victoria police, rather than Saanich, which provides 9-1-1 service for Oak Bay. Although the call was passed along, "the gravity of the communication was lost," along with their lives.
This ridiculous split of jurisdictions has probably killed someone, and not for the first time.
Saanich and Victoria officers had to decide which department should respond to a case at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
We are subjected to endless discussion about the Blue Bridge, but the real issue is that Victoria can't afford to support its infrastructure with its population.
The only sensible solution is the amalgamation of at least Esquimalt, Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich.
Why isn't that happening?
If the citizens don't take the initiative to force amalgamation, we will have more tragedies, more unsolved crime, crumbling infrastructure and a downward spiral that will ruin the wonderful lifestyle the region offers.
The testimony at the Lee inquest makes it clear that Sunny Park, attempting to save her life and that of her six-year-old son, was shuffled from West Shore RCMP to Victoria police to Oak Bay police to report her husband tried to kill her and would again. They didn't co-ordinate.
When he showed up, the call went to Victoria police, rather than Saanich, which provides 9-1-1 service for Oak Bay. Although the call was passed along, "the gravity of the communication was lost," along with their lives.
This ridiculous split of jurisdictions has probably killed someone, and not for the first time.
Saanich and Victoria officers had to decide which department should respond to a case at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.
We are subjected to endless discussion about the Blue Bridge, but the real issue is that Victoria can't afford to support its infrastructure with its population.
The only sensible solution is the amalgamation of at least Esquimalt, Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich.
Why isn't that happening?
If the citizens don't take the initiative to force amalgamation, we will have more tragedies, more unsolved crime, crumbling infrastructure and a downward spiral that will ruin the wonderful lifestyle the region offers.
Monday, January 11, 2010
There is No Ability to Plan for the Future
The Chamber of Commerce has recently written that the greater Victoria area has done a good job of maintaining existing infrastructure but that their ability to plan for ten to fifty years in the future is inadequate. Clearly our city, with its divisions and lack of singular vision, will never, in the life times of anyone here, see light rapid transit, an Aquarium, Children’s Museum, open air concert facility, new concert hall, or regional facilities of any magnitude.
That is not to say that some smaller versions, less adequate, or subject to significant compromise, might not one day see the light of day. However, the Chamber has inferred that, without a vision that can be lead by a mayor and counsel looking at the good of the region for the future, we simply will not have any implemented plan for the future.
It is all well and good for different people, say the City of Victoria, to have a plan, but without the cooperation of the region which will benefit, it is unlikely to happen.
If a bridge needs to be built, it is for the benefit of all. Why are not all citizens involved in the debate? Why is it only those few that live in Victoria? Next time it might be an overpass on the highway. Why is it there and unfinished? Why do we have to drive by an unsightly area for years to come? Why have we no say in getting it cleaned up, unless we live in Langford?
That is not to say that some smaller versions, less adequate, or subject to significant compromise, might not one day see the light of day. However, the Chamber has inferred that, without a vision that can be lead by a mayor and counsel looking at the good of the region for the future, we simply will not have any implemented plan for the future.
It is all well and good for different people, say the City of Victoria, to have a plan, but without the cooperation of the region which will benefit, it is unlikely to happen.
If a bridge needs to be built, it is for the benefit of all. Why are not all citizens involved in the debate? Why is it only those few that live in Victoria? Next time it might be an overpass on the highway. Why is it there and unfinished? Why do we have to drive by an unsightly area for years to come? Why have we no say in getting it cleaned up, unless we live in Langford?
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