Victoria and Saanich meet with B.C. government to discuss amalgamation process

Amalgamation in B.C.'s capital region where 13 municipalities oversee 380,000 people is a topic that often gets brought up, but rarely gets resolved in any concrete way.

But this week, the leaders of the region's two biggest municipalities Victoria and Saanichmet with the provincial government to discuss how a process might play out.

"It was good. It was basically an information gathering meeting," said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, describing a meeting between herself, Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell and Municipal Affairs Minister Selina Robinson.

"Now we'll go back to our council and discuss what next steps could look like,"Helps said.

Helps and Atwell said the biggest issuehighlighted by the provincial government whichwould have to approve anamalgamation referendum and subsequentchanges if successful is the level of community engagement needed in all steps of the process.

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"In order to get there, if that`s where we end up, we need a fulsome process that gets down to the nutsand bolts of things, involves all stakeholders, and walks a careful path, that is bulletproof in a way," said Atwell.

"So when we get to that decision, there's no doubt that's the decision to make."

Robinson said the preliminary conversation was a good starting point, but cautioned that any formal process would be lengthy.

"If you want to make it happen in a right way, you need to make sure your process is really good and solid, and that does take some time."

Referendum in Duncan and North Cowichan

In the 2014 municipal elections, there werenon-binding referendum questionsin eight municipalities, with seven of them votingin favour of either amalgamation in the region, or to directtheir municipalities to lookat greater efficiencies.

However, little actionhas taken place since then.

"It was a ballot question that only some communities did and everyone asked a different question. We're trying to be coordinated and be on the same page," said Atwell.

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In contrast, the neighbouring Vancouver Island communities of Duncan (population 5,000, two square kilometres in size) and neighbouring North Cowichan (30,000 people, 195 square kilometres in size) asked similar questions about amalgamation in 2014. Theyfollowed through with a citizens assembly that eventually recommended a referendum to merge the two municipalities.

That referendum was approved by the provincial government and will take place June 23. Helps says it'sa useful marker of how Victoria and Saanichmight approach the issue. It's also an incentivefor having the conversation between just two municipalities to begin with.

"Arguably, there's been citizen engagement for years, becausewe're all talking about it. But yes, I think the fact we're starting with two as a question mark is easier than 13, or even four or five," she said.

"You have to start somewhere.It's not meant to be exclusive. If others are interested in joining in. But there needs to be a starting point."

Discussion on North Shore?

While there are 21 municipalities in Metro Vancouver, amalgamation debates have tended to be smaller than in Greater Victoria.

But on Monday, the District of North Vancouver will vote on whether to "determine public support for examining the costs and benefits of reunification" with the City of North Vancouver.

"We're convinced that, for instance, with one North Vancouver, we could more effectively plan and manage east-west transportation,"reads a draft letter they would put in newspapers if the motion passes.