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.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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?
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