FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (September 8th, 2014)
More Municipalities add amalgamation questions on the November 2014 municipal ballot.
On the heels of Central Saanich and Langford, Esquimalt and Sidney Councils passed motions on September 8th, 2014 to put a non-binding question on the ballot in the November 2014 municipal election. This brings the total to five municipalities with populations of 160,000, 46% of the capital region population, who have opted to hear residents voices on this important issue.
“We are pleased to see that Esquimalt and Sidney have listened to the public and have agreed to place a question on the ballot. This shows courage and willingness to recognize the right of the public to determine its form of governance, said John Vickers spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.
Esquimalt and Sidney are joining Central Saanich, Langford and Victoria in placing a question on the ballot. Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen said they would ask a question if the other municipalities did. Colwood had previously agreed to put a question on but changed their position.
“Five municipalities have recognized the right of the public to have a say on this issue hopefully eight more will see the democratic right of the public to vote on this issue. We are calling on the Mayor of Oak Bay to follow through with his promise and urge Saanich, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands, North Saanich and Sooke to show leadership by giving the public the opportunity to vote on this important issue”, stated John Vickers.
Amalgamation Yes will continue to encourage all municipalities in the region to put an amalgamation question on the ballot. The non-binding question proposed by AmalgamationYes is “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?” A positive result would motivate the Province of BC to commission an expert study to compare various municipal amalgamation models against the status quo and trigger community engagement about how we wish to be governed.
“The public wants to vote on the matter of amalgamation as evidenced by the recent Angus Reid poll where 89% of those surveyed felt the question should be on the November ballot, by the discussion in the media and in signatures gathered by AmalgamationYes on its petition. Now is the time for elected officials to act and place the matter before the electorate in November, added John Vickers.
Contact Information:
John Vickers: Amalgamation Yes Vice Chair and Spokesperson,
250-661-5350
www.amalgamationyes.ca
More Municipalities add amalgamation questions on the November 2014 municipal ballot.
On the heels of Central Saanich and Langford, Esquimalt and Sidney Councils passed motions on September 8th, 2014 to put a non-binding question on the ballot in the November 2014 municipal election. This brings the total to five municipalities with populations of 160,000, 46% of the capital region population, who have opted to hear residents voices on this important issue.
“We are pleased to see that Esquimalt and Sidney have listened to the public and have agreed to place a question on the ballot. This shows courage and willingness to recognize the right of the public to determine its form of governance, said John Vickers spokesperson for AmalgamationYes.
Esquimalt and Sidney are joining Central Saanich, Langford and Victoria in placing a question on the ballot. Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen said they would ask a question if the other municipalities did. Colwood had previously agreed to put a question on but changed their position.
“Five municipalities have recognized the right of the public to have a say on this issue hopefully eight more will see the democratic right of the public to vote on this issue. We are calling on the Mayor of Oak Bay to follow through with his promise and urge Saanich, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, Highlands, North Saanich and Sooke to show leadership by giving the public the opportunity to vote on this important issue”, stated John Vickers.
Amalgamation Yes will continue to encourage all municipalities in the region to put an amalgamation question on the ballot. The non-binding question proposed by AmalgamationYes is “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the Capital Regional District through amalgamation?” A positive result would motivate the Province of BC to commission an expert study to compare various municipal amalgamation models against the status quo and trigger community engagement about how we wish to be governed.
“The public wants to vote on the matter of amalgamation as evidenced by the recent Angus Reid poll where 89% of those surveyed felt the question should be on the November ballot, by the discussion in the media and in signatures gathered by AmalgamationYes on its petition. Now is the time for elected officials to act and place the matter before the electorate in November, added John Vickers.
Contact Information:
John Vickers: Amalgamation Yes Vice Chair and Spokesperson,
250-661-5350
www.amalgamationyes.ca