tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83023338402093943552024-03-05T16:51:26.391-08:00Amalgamate Greater VictoriaThe purpose of this forum is to generate discussion regarding the way in which Greater Victoria is governed and hopefully, how we as a region, might one day create a municipal government, which provides good government for the benefit of us all. A government concerned about all our citizens, drawn from our many visions, but providing a unified voice.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-79784992032220230102012-09-23T16:41:00.001-07:002012-09-23T16:41:44.660-07:00A Plan for the Amalgamation of Greater Victoria<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The problem faced by the residents of Greater Victoria
is that we do not receive the benefit of good government (specifically, the
best governance that should reasonably be made available to an area our
size).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This becomes glaringly obvious
when there are 13 municipalities and over 91 politicians governing
approximately 360,000 people.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The reasonable solution is to amalgamate some or all
of the municipalities into one, two or three cities.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The only way to amalgamate the cities is for the
Province of British Columbia to do so by legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of the 13 municipalities exists only
because the Province created them. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Historically the Province has only pursued an
amalgamation, to the best to my knowledge, when a sufficient number of the
residents in the area request it.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In 2003 I wrote to the Province of British Columbia
and asked them to consider amalgamation in greater Victoria and the response
from the Minister at the time (of the Liberal Government) was that they would
only pursue amalgamation if requested to do so by the municipalities.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I then wrote to each municipality asking that they
hold a referendum on the issue of amalgamation, in the next municipal
election.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of them did so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few even acknowledged receipt of the letter.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The reality of the municipal governments (except for
the City of Victoria) actually asking for an amalgamation is realistically,
nil.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Somehow we need to get the Province of British
Columbia to actively pursue an amalgamation of some or all of the Greater
Victoria Municipalities.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Practical Solution</span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Based on the fact that, for the foreseeable future the
Province is not going to hold a referendum on the issue and the municipalities
are not going to hold a referendum on the issue, we have to hold a referendum
without the cooperation of the current governments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be done.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Such a referendum can be held during the next
municipal election in 2014.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Amalgamation-Yes</span></u></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We can hold a referendum by coordinating a group of
people to market and run 13 candidates with a common, single-issue platform
that has a clearly understood purpose, amalgamation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Voters who support the issue can then give
one of their multiple votes to the amalgamation candidate in their area. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The total votes will reflect the
referendum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The process to achieve this
is set out here.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Create a Political Party</span></u></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We need to first create a political party named “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amalgamation-Yes</i>”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of creating a political party is
so that candidates, who are a member of the party, are able to have the words
“Amalgamation-Yes” listed by their names on the ballot in the upcoming
municipal election.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As a result, when the voter sees the ballet, they will
clearly be able to identify the candidate who supports the issue.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The Amalgamation-Yes
Party represents citizens of Greater Victoria who support the amalgamation of
the municipality in which they live with some or all of the municipalities in
the greater Victoria Region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We demand
that the Province of British Columbia take steps to determine and implement the
best organization of the 13 municipalities in the Greater Victoria Region to
provide for less and better government.”</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We do not want to push for a certain form of
amalgamation; for example, there being only one city, three cities, or
something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is because that
will split the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somebody might
support amalgamation into three cities but not support amalgamation into
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is important that we acknowledge
it is an amalgamation with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one or more</b>
with the neighbouring municipalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mandate will be then to seek to have the Province determine what the
best solution for the region will be and then implement it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot get distracted on what the specific
best scenario for the 13 municipalities is, at this time.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Common Platform</span></u></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Candidates must run under the same platform in all
municipalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advertising,
signage, and message must be the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The very clear message must be: </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Please
vote for our party <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only</b> if you
support the amalgamation of your municipality with one or more of your neighbouring
municipalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not vote for the
party if you do not support amalgamation, even if you would otherwise like to
see the candidate in office.” </span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This is important, as we will take the results of the
election and present them to the Provincial Government and seek to have the
Province study and implement the best way to govern the area based on the
results of this election.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">By making the message clear, we will be creating a
referendum.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The message to the public (and the Provincial
Government) must be clear that:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you support amalgamation we seek only one of your
votes for the candidate who is a member of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amalgamation-Y</i>es.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be other candidates you may
support, but if you favour amalgamation please allocate one vote to an <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amalgamation-Yes</i> candidate.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Candidates would not run for Mayor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to ensure that people are voting for
the amalgamation issue and not simply for a candidate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is far more likely to occur when people
are considering one of the many votes they have for counsellors, rather than
the one vote they have for mayor.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">By having party members run only for the position for
councillor, we will generate a more accurate vote of those in favour of
amalgamation.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">All material published by candidates and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amalgamation-Yes</i> party will indicate
that if sufficient candidates receive a high number of votes (which represent
support of amalgamation) those results will be taken to the Provincial
Government for action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will show to
the Government that:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
voters were asked to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">only</b> vote for
our candidates if they supported amalgamation or their municipality with one or
more of their neighbours; and</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
results, if as anticipated, are significant, will reflect that there is
overwhelming support for some municipal reorganization in the Greater Victoria
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">By use of the party name, members of the public will
be able to identify the candidate whether or not they remember the name of the
individual in their municipality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Nominate Candidates</span></u></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An important step will be for the party to identify
thirteen (13) individuals to run, one (1) in each municipality under the banner
of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amalgamation-Yes</i> party.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The party must approve each candidate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The individuals must be of good character,
eligible to run in the relevant municipality, and fully support amalgamation of
their municipality with one or more of the neighbouring municipalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">They must also not “carry baggage”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candidates who might win or lose for other
reasons could be a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need good
people who can carry the message as cleanly as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The closer we can get to this the stronger
the resulting message to the Provincial Government once they win.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: 1.0in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Each candidate must be competent to fully perform the
services of a municipal councillor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
need to be prepared to answer and deal appropriately with all municipal
issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the election they will
need to be able to answer questions in a way that makes it clear that they
would help govern the municipality in a prudent and reasonable way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When elected they will have to do the job
they are elected to for the current municipality, even though they support
amalgamation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because amalgamation will
not occur immediately (if at all) the individuals must be and seem to be,
otherwise good candidates to be elected to government.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It is important that there be only one (1) candidate
in each municipality as a member of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amalgamation-Yes</i>
party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will ensure that the vote is
not split.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The objective here is not
simply to get as many people as possible in favour of amalgamation elected to
council but rather to create our own referendum.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Candidates, once they are identified and approved must
be educated as to the other issues in their municipality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Successful candidates will still have to act
as of members of the municipal council and deal with all issues that councils
are required to address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not want
supporters of amalgamation to vote against the candidate for fear that they
will not be able to do a reasonably good job on all other issues in the
municipalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that being said, it
would also be very clear that in each municipality there would be sufficient
council members to help carry the load of governance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, the reason as well, that
Amalgamation-Yes candidates will not run for the position of Mayor.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The messaging from all candidates must be the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This creates a regional referendum
and because our municipalities are so close there will be cross knowledge and
advertising which needs to be consistent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: 1.0in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Party Structure</span></u></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The party will require a President, Treasurer,
Secretary, Marketing Chair, numerous Researchers, individual candidates, and
perhaps others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The party website would be set up with sufficient
information as to the benefits of amalgamation that each of the candidates and
the general public can access.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
currently the website <a href="http://www.lessgov.com/">www.lessgov.com</a>
which we can use for information and linking.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Subject to municipal and provincial requirements,
which need to be determined, all candidates would fundraise together, such that
funds would be pooled for advertising by the party, which will be the priority
rather than as individuals.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Individual candidates will need to attend as many
meetings as possible in their municipalities to get the message out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Signage is going to be important and the signage must
be all the same in each municipality, in fact, it need not even include the
candidate’s name, rather “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amalgamation-Yes
– If you support this issue - Vote for the Candidate in your Municipality</b>”.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We need to have good researchers to identify all the
benefits of amalgamation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We also need to address the negatives of amalgamation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We must develop answers to as many typical questions
to municipal candidates as possible, incorporating how the issue could be
addressed better if amalgamation were in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The key of course, is that amalgamation will provide
for good government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We eliminate the
CRD, we can act as one for the common good of all and we realise numerous
benefits from actually being the City we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We cannot simply suggest that there may be a cost savings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The possibility is that there may be an
expense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taxes might rise (hopefully
not).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to address this issue. The
overall benefits will far exceed any increased cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The cost of party membership should be nominal, if
anything, to get our numbers up with an encouragement for individuals to donate
more money.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: 1.0in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Plan</span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The party and candidates should be identified in the
near future, prior to the Provincial election on May, 14 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should bring this issue to the forefront
for provincial candidates so that they acknowledge that if there are positive
results of such a campaign, then the Government will seriously review the issue
of amalgamation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; tab-stops: .5in center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The initial steps are:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To call the first meeting of the
Amalgamation-Yes party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Identify
the party executive who will commit to moving the issue forward through the
next municipal election.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Create
a process to approve appropriate candidates as well as how to remove
inappropriate candidates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Start identifying thirteen qualified candidates
for the next municipal election.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ask
each municipality again, if they will hold a referendum on the issue of
amalgamation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If any do, then we need
not run a candidate in that city</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Reach out to all other pro-amalgamation groups
to join the party.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Start fundraising.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Start
posting all relevant issues and responses regarding the issues of
amalgamation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ensure
that each candidate obtains sufficient members within their municipality for
the party to be listed on the ballot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Develop
a comprehensive marketing plan including social media, traditional media,
signage, and community contacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Develop a logo and website.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Address all negative comments quickly,
competently, and accurately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: 27.0pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">13.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Acknowledge
that contrary views are certainly possible and simply point out in a positive
way why those views as expressed from time to time are in error.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">14.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After
the election:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we meet with the Provincial
Government, taking to them the results and asking them to act on the
mandate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also each elected party member
will seek to bring forward motions for their municipal governments to seek amalgamation
with one of more of their neighbouring municipalities.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Suggested Timeframe</span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-left: .25in; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: 27.0pt center 3.2in right 6.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Initial Party meeting October 19, 2012.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Appointment of executive November 15, 2012.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Identify as many municipal candidates by
January 31, 2013 (noting this will give us time as well to replace anyone who
is unsuitable).</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ensure
that a brochure is drafted early on with copies to all current members of
government and, all candidates for provincial government, and all members of
any new legislature in 2013.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Conclusion</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
is the project important?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is
imperative to emphasis that the goal is to create good government in the region
for the benefit of all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply put, an
amalgamated city will be able to better govern in the interests of all the
citizens and be able to move forward to provide a better life for all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
do not emphasis the lessening of red tape and encouraging business growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly these will be desired results;
however, the emphasis must be on the overall benefits of coordinated
government, the strength in numbers, the influence of a cohesive voice to
others, the mandate to move forward on issues that reflect the greater good of
the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amalgamation
is not being pursued for business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However
the citizens of Greater Victoria and the businesses that support the community
will all benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By having a single
city (or at least fewer), those who need affordable housing will have a better
chance at getting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crime can be dealt
with in a far more cohesive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parks
can be identified and developed that benefit everyone and logically located to
provide equal opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Community
facilities can be located by considering the use everyone will make of them
rather than on which municipality wants to pay more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tax benefits from the Provincial and federal
governments can be obtained and benefit the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you are retired, a single parent, government employee, or a business owner,
your life in Greater Victoria will be improved through the existence of a
municipal government focused on all of us, regardless of what side of the
street you live on.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you are interested in joining the party, please
contact amalgamationyes@gmail.com.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you are interested in assisting the party in some
capacity such as executive, research, fundraising, or as a municipal candidate,
please contact James Legh at amalgamationyes@gmail.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please include a resume to assist in
determining how you can best assist the party.</span></div>
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James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-16188605822781717262011-10-09T19:19:00.000-07:002011-10-09T19:37:03.951-07:00Arts Funding - We all need it<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm54DL3j3dQ48zcTnsROm5mmoWiNvq3VXZUm-RQIbr48Ooee0bmeCHn-N6nrVpK2rUDsK31-cuqDDzV5Dco-kqvB3pBKGsFSg_qIP5c7NKxzJdcFNJP7IoGBIpumNDiuYAOK1Bw4gIOA/s1600/arts1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgm54DL3j3dQ48zcTnsROm5mmoWiNvq3VXZUm-RQIbr48Ooee0bmeCHn-N6nrVpK2rUDsK31-cuqDDzV5Dco-kqvB3pBKGsFSg_qIP5c7NKxzJdcFNJP7IoGBIpumNDiuYAOK1Bw4gIOA/s200/arts1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661686871968654258" /></a><br /><br /><br />Only eight of our 13 municipalities contribute to the CRD arts funding. Sooke, Langford, Colwood, Central Saanich and North Saanich do not. Apparently this is because they think their citizens do not use the arts which are focused mainly on the downtown. <br /><br />What a crock. I have seen people who live in Sooke at many arts events. Remember, many even work in Victoria. Do they seriously think that their residents do not go to concerts or plays? Do none of them enjoy the Symphony? <br /><br />The real point is that we live here, in Greater Victoria, not just due to the weather and the beauty, but due to all the benefits the region provides. Were Langford located 100 miles away from the rest of us, I assure you it would not be anything like it is now. It would be Youbou (maybe Port Renfrew).<br /><br />Good government would flow from amalgamation and such a government could consider what the arts bring to the region, not just to the back pocket of one small area. We should all contribute and we should all benefit, which we will through having a better place to live.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-70352319708158428372011-09-25T23:12:00.000-07:002011-09-25T23:15:17.412-07:00Victoria looks to Saanich for help meeting carbon-neutral deadline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrLRzjie8SHE55DAwpEIQi5bLVRjWi9c-SEc_0HY_7tP0DVaMQ"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 168px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrLRzjie8SHE55DAwpEIQi5bLVRjWi9c-SEc_0HY_7tP0DVaMQ" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Victoria needs Saanich to help with meeting a carbon-neutral deadline.<br /><br />Mayor Fortin is quoted as saying “<span style="font-style:italic;">Why wouldn’t we be doing what Saanich does?</span>”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">This says it all.</span>James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-43185945013946971222011-09-25T23:07:00.000-07:002011-09-25T23:11:58.605-07:00Mayors want a review of Transit<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPYDFGQVhaq0eST1rzYPqk3vqRJGD1D0rMHgDQTCbDaRemu2dj"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 168px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQPYDFGQVhaq0eST1rzYPqk3vqRJGD1D0rMHgDQTCbDaRemu2dj" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />We have poor communication between BC Transit management and the Victoria Regional Transit Commission.<br /><br />One suggestion by Mayor Leonard is to put the control of transit in the hands of the CRD.<br /><br />There are concerns that BC Transit is spending money locally on land without local input and spending money on expensive reports for Greater Victoria.<br /><br />I would suggest that an amalgamated city would simply take over and provide its own Transit system, just like Winnipeg Transit, and then there would be no communication issues and any spending would be directly controlled and be the responsibility of the people we elect to counsel.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-74785332818161208762011-09-20T23:41:00.000-07:002011-09-20T23:45:21.269-07:00We need a Police Department for AllThe Times Colonist editorial of September 20, 2011 says that the correct decision for the provincial government to make is to require Esquimalt to continue a contract for Policing with the City of Victoria and not allow them to switch to the RCMP.<br /><br />Brilliant, but really, does the province not see that the mere fact they have to look at this issue is reflective of a fundamental flaw in the governance of our Capital? <br /><br />What the Province should do is say thank you to Esquimalt. This issue is reflective of what will be an ongoing problem, as it will certainly arise again. No matter the answer, Esquimalt may one day say we would like to go with Saanich, or back to Victoria, or whatever. <br /><br />There should be no choice beyond improving their own, regional police force. <br /><br />How is it that we have a regional water system and not a regional police force?<br /><br />We all have the same concerns over water and safety. No area can say they have a different level of overall concern for policing than any other area. <br /><br />We all want safe drinking water, delivered to us at a reasonable price.<br /><br />If that water is maliciously tainted, we all want the perpetrators brought to justice and punished in a coordinated and effective manner. Right now we would have to sort out first where the water was tainted, then where the people who did it lived, and then perhaps where the water went. Sounds like another joint committee of policing. <br /><br />I really do not want to entrust the safety of my family to a committee, which reports to 13 different governments, and has no clear leadership.<br /><br />Of all the issues that municipal governments deal with, policing is one of the most important. For policing to be effective, good leadership is critical. I will assume this based on the fact that for a few thousand years now human society has clearly implemented a leadership based police/military structure, which while not always perfect, seems to get the job done.<br /><br />So why are we denied the benefits of a cohesive group of men and women, sworn to protect us no matter where we are in the community?<br /><br />The province should make a decision and that must be to at least unify the core police departments.<br /><br />For the record, I live in Saanich; have an office in Victoria, another in Langford and a business in Esquimalt. Some days I am in all four locations. They are all serviced by the same alarm company. They use to be “protected” by 4, now 3 different police departments. If the alarm company can deal with the whole area why can’t the police?James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-52848503008614838892011-09-20T23:37:00.001-07:002011-09-20T23:41:25.863-07:00Highway 17 Joint Planning CommitteeThere is a committee with representatives from at least the Town of Sidney, Central Saanich and North Saanich. (There may be more, I am not sure) This committee makes recommendations to the Ministry of Transportation on issues of safety a safe way to cross Highway 17.<br /><br />Their priority is a pedestrian overpass at Beacon Avenue. They have been working on this since 2009.<br /><br />It’s good that they are working together. I also appreciate that the Province is always going to be involved when it comes to a highway.<br /><br />But you have to think that a capital city, would look at its road safety issues, prioritize them for the sake of all its citizens and then implement the measures needed.<br /><br />We would not have to strike committees from 3 different cities who then try to lobby the provincial government.<br /><br />The Highway 17 Joint Planning Committee only exists because we have so many cities. A properly constituted municipal government would just deal with these issues in the best interests of all its citizens.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-32098984381318026802011-09-18T15:36:00.000-07:002011-09-18T15:41:14.717-07:00Victoria Police will be Marketing for a Regional Force<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" 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border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Victoria Police are pushing for a Regional Force. I am happy that the Victoria Police plan to market the problems that result from a lack of a regional force; I just worry that it will be perceived as self serving. The truth of what they say is clear. We would all be safer and better protected with a regional police force. The problem is that not everyone, politicians in particular, believe it. Those who can speak out will and they will simply say the source is biased.<br /><br />It would be so very nice if any other police force would do this instead.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-68775526939510040232011-09-18T15:32:00.000-07:002011-09-18T15:36:06.435-07:00Garbage Collection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeaPjoy14W6Yb_9neV4eE7_4De0rDe_-e-xi3CAkT6O2ZlPoYQJw"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 168px;" src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeaPjoy14W6Yb_9neV4eE7_4De0rDe_-e-xi3CAkT6O2ZlPoYQJw" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Nothing reminds us more about the purpose of municipal services than garbage collection.<br /><br />So Victoria is now doing a survey of their residents to see what they want to do about it. Of course this also ties into recycling which is another form of garbage collection. Dean Fortin wants to get organics out of the waste stream. <br /><br />In all of this Fortin is quoted as saying the biggest issue at the CRD is whether it is a private sector service of a public sector service. Seems we have both in our cities. Some people have backyard pick up some do not. There are different services in different areas.<br /><br />This is not right. No one can convincingly say that the people of Saanich want something different than those in Colwood. There will be some in both areas who want what the other has. The reality is that we all live in the same area; we dump our waste in the same water and landfill. If we move five miles to a different house we should expect to get the same service we had before.<br />Whether it is private or public, there must be a cost savings to having the same service in the whole region. If not the whole region, at least the four core municipalities and the WestShore.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-74142136252913104882011-09-17T16:37:00.000-07:002011-09-17T16:52:22.804-07:005 years and a lot of money, wasted on traffic projectThe Victoria Regional Transit Commission, the City of Victoria, the Municipality of Saanich, BC Transit, and the Ministry of Transportation, seem to have wasted up to $3 million. Five years ago they started a project to create priority for buses along Douglas Street. They spent money but then due to there being no one to coordinate between the players, what looks like a simple matter fell through the cracks.<br /><br />The equipment that was installed is now useless and out of date. The money wasted. Now there is a “new group” with representatives from “all jurisdictions” working to make the plan work, with additional costs and after years of delay.<br /><br />So, if we were amalgamated, we would have one city, and the Ministry of Transportation. Two organizations working on this project instead of five.<br />We would not need a Victoria Regional Transit Commission and BC Transit can just transfer their mandate to the City, which would be able to run the busses as is done in many other cities. Even if BC Transit were to remain, we would still cut down on the bureaucracy which clearly in this case lost us all a great deal of money and delayed for years something that was presumably of benefit to the region.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-23275249682831679962011-03-20T16:56:00.000-07:002011-03-20T17:06:08.726-07:00Traffic restrictions are different on either side of City BoardersThere are roads which go between municipalities, in case you did not notice. It recently became apparent that the rules of the roads will change once a vehicle hits one of the many invisible barriers.<br /><br />In the case of one road between Central Saanich and Saanich, trucks over 5500 kilograms can drive up to the boarder in Central Saanich, but cannot drive along the same road once it reaches Saanich.<br /><br />Due to a problem for the use of some land in Central Saanich, the counsel there agreed that it was appropriate to make some changes to the road which approaches the land, currently owned by the Rendle family. However, to access the road which Central Saanich is changing, one has to drive on Saanich Roads. Saanich counsel of course has neither interest nor incentive to do anything. <br /><br />Why should Saanich care? It will cost money to make any changes and simply benefit a neighboring municipality.<br /><br />Saanich did care enough to pay for new signs to be posted, making it clear that it was illegal for large trucks to use their roads.<br /><br />This is not the way to manage a city and its roads. The capital needs to amalgamate.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-86538201659470458462010-10-09T17:34:00.000-07:002010-10-09T17:48:29.941-07:00Amalgamation May Help Get People Out to VoteThe 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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”.<br /><br />That might create interest in the campaign.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />An entire community focused on the same issues can create interest.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Now if we were all concerned about the same issues, we might just start all talking about them and in turn create community interest.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-71530359576701037852010-10-09T17:28:00.000-07:002010-10-09T17:30:52.226-07:00Numerous Police Agencies Needed to Deal With Just a Few PeopleThe idea was to find and arrest drug dealers who frequent downtown. It was reported on October 6, 2010 that to do so:<br /><br />1. Victoria police and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team arrested a Saanich man and a Nanaimo man in Saanich and View Royal. <br />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.<br /><br />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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-14670723235536914372010-10-02T21:46:00.000-07:002010-10-02T22:01:02.049-07:00Why Amalgamating Policing is NOT EnoughIf 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />At least pay most of it. They can now avoid paying, from $9,000 to $11,000, for their share of two extra officers.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Perhaps we could at least start there and then look further afield.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-85782180678937371782010-09-29T19:40:00.000-07:002010-09-29T20:23:14.088-07:00Further Comments on TC Article<span style="font-weight:bold;">Our fractured forces: Is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?<br />After decades of jurisdictional squabbling, and three deadly tragedies, is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?</span><br />By Lindsay Kines, Katie Derosa and Jack Knox, Times Colonist September 22, 2010<br /><br />I have added some personal comments on the article last posted from the TC as follows (my comments are capitalised):<br /><br />A subsequent coroner's inquest recommended the "continued unification of the various police departments" in Greater Victoria.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />By contrast, Toronto's 2.6 million population is policed by a single force, as are all other major metropolitan areas in Canada.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br /> IF THIS IS TRUE , WHY HAVE NUMEROUS POLICE CHIEFS AND INSPECTORS WITHIN THE SAME AREA?<br /><br />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.<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /> <br /> THIS REFLECTS THE COMMENT ABOVE.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"Saanich taxpayers don't expect to pay for what goes on downtown."<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Saanich Insp. Bob Downie says he's puzzled by arguments in favour of a regional force.<br /><br />"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.<br /><br />"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."<br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME WASTED ON DEPATEMENTS BEING IN CONFLICT ON DECIDING WHICH RECORDS OR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TO BE USED.<br /><br />OFFICERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO APPLY TO MOVE FROM VICTORIA TO SAANICH. OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT THAT A REGIONAL FORCE CAN PROVIDE.<br /><br />OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON ALL AREAS OF THE CITY AND THE CRIMES WHICH ARE OCCURRING THERE.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />"This isn't about cost," he says. "This is about the ability to deploy more effectively."<br /><br /> 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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-5678391200278176982010-09-29T19:36:00.000-07:002010-10-06T00:04:00.373-07:00Another Relevant TC Article<span style="font-weight:bold;">Our fractured forces: Is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?<br />After decades of jurisdictional squabbling, and three deadly tragedies, is it time to overhaul B.C.'s police system?</span><br />By Lindsay Kines, Katie Derosa and Jack Knox, Times Colonist September 22, 2010<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />The coroner's inquest recommended the "continued unification of the various police departments" in Greater Victoria.<br /><br /><br />"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."<br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />"This isn't about cost," <br />"This is about the ability to deploy more effectively."<br /><br />Read the TC article for the full story<br /><br />Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/fractured+forces+time+overhaul+police+system/3560864/story.html#ixzz10ybcxGp9James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-34143784603410279072010-09-29T19:29:00.000-07:002010-10-06T00:13:25.595-07:00No Greater Victoria Police Department in ControlThe following article from the Times Colonist reflects a strong reason for Amalgamation<br /><br />Patchwork policing: 3 case studies<br /> <br /> <br />TIMES COLONISTSEPTEMBER 22, 2010<br /> <br /> <br />CASE STUDY 2007<br /><br />PETER LEE<br /><br />NO ONE FORCE IN CONTROL OF 'UGLY' CASE<br /><br />The article makes a number of valid points including:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />At one point a 911 call, was rerouted to Victoria dispatch instead of Saanich, which covers calls for Oak Bay.<br /><br />Oak Bay police did not enter the home; they waited for Saanich backup.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />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.<br /><br />In the end, a total of 44 officers and dispatchers from three departments and two call centres had handled the case.<br /><br />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."<br /><br />The region still has three dispatch systems and seven police forces.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-3080872605625808222010-09-12T22:34:00.000-07:002010-09-12T22:45:38.103-07:00Garbage waits while different Governments ponderGarbage waits while different Governments ponder<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.”James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-5558584893188466102010-08-25T00:43:00.000-07:002010-08-25T00:48:11.019-07:00Quote from the Vancouver Sun regarding policing and the need to amalgamateAugust 24, 2010<br />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.<br /><br />"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."James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-41525540818242909232010-06-21T00:32:00.001-07:002010-06-21T00:47:55.784-07:00WinnipegI was just back in Winnipeg. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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).<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />Winnipeg with a population of 680,000 has one city council.<br />Victoria, well, you know.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-77274837533903148962010-06-21T00:22:00.000-07:002010-06-21T00:31:38.499-07:00Rail Crossing a Regional IssueThe City of Victoria may drop the rail line across the Blue Bridge due to the cost.<br />That makes sense to those in Victoria. <br />It makes no sense to those in the Western Communities.<br />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.<br />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.<br />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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-77134213507696933932010-05-08T15:40:00.000-07:002010-05-08T15:43:15.707-07:00May 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:<br /><br />1. Any past security problems have not been in their buildings but on other areas of campus<br />2. They could hire another company to provide the service they think they need at a reduced cost.<br />3. So they decide to go on their own with respect to campus security.<br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Seems silly does it not? In fact seems plainly illogical. However this is exactly what we have in Victoria and it is getting worse.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-39289765484523509882010-04-13T08:50:00.000-07:002010-04-22T23:55:05.620-07:00Businesses ask for voting rightsThe business lobby is pushing for voting rights in municipal elections. Like many controversial issues, there are arguments for and against both sides.<br /><br />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?<br /><br />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.<br /><br />What do you think?David Bratzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16356249815391506872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-4730223794132213512010-03-13T18:04:00.000-08:002010-03-13T18:10:00.033-08:00Victoria asks Saanich for moneyOn 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. <br /><br />The money has already been fronted by Victoria. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-4619459131716162812010-01-12T00:51:00.000-08:002010-10-06T00:19:27.786-07:00The Lee inquest and amalgamationAleck Trawick wrote to the Times Colonist a letter which included comments such as:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />This ridiculous split of jurisdictions has probably killed someone, and not for the first time.<br /><br />Saanich and Victoria officers had to decide which department should respond to a case at the Royal Jubilee Hospital.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />The only sensible solution is the amalgamation of at least Esquimalt, Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich. <br /><br />Why isn't that happening?<br /><br />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.James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8302333840209394355.post-80390207412214273792010-01-11T23:55:00.000-08:002010-01-12T00:08:45.061-08:00There is No Ability to Plan for the FutureThe 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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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?James Leghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10515861322081121345noreply@blogger.com0