Victoria will not dictate the future of Greater Vernon. Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, says he is watching a pro-amalgamation campaign closely, but he says the provincial government has a limited role in the process. “We as a government, under legislation, cannot force amalgamation on an incorporated municipality,” he said. “We do not force amalgamation on anyone.” The citizen-based Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon is circulating a petition that asks local and provincial authorities to develop a plan to combine Vernon, Coldstream and Areas B and C into a single entity. Foster says any calls for a governance restructuring study or a referendum must come from the communities themselves. “If the proponents of the petition get a large number of names, it will be up to local government to say to the province they want a study,” he said. If officials from Vernon, Coldstream and the electoral areas refuse, Foster believes the society will have to consider its options. “The proponents would have to look at the next civic election (November 2014) and decide what to do. Do you run pro-amalgamation candidates?” he said. The petition was launched Sept. 8, and while he has had discussions with the society, Foster hasn’t been approached by residents on the topic. “I have heard almost nothing. I’m surprised because I thought I’d hear something,” he said. “I thought I would see a lot of letters to the editor in the paper or e-mails to my office. There doesn’t seem to be the interest I expected.” Foster would not speculate on why he has not been contacted by residents on possible amalgamation. There has been limited discussions with local politicians. “They aren’t making much comment. They just want to know what the process would be if this goes forward,” he said.
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Municipal Restructure
Municipal restructure is guided by the following principles:
- the process for examining municipal restructure should be locally initiated and focused;
- the decision to restructure must be made by the electorate through a referendum;
- the vote should be made by an informed electorate; and
- all sectors of the community need to be involved in the discussion.
Municipal restructure may be initially identified as an option by individuals or groups in the outlying communities or by the municipality. However, there must be agreement by the municipality to study the impacts of a restructure before a restructure study process can proceed. Municipal restructure may be implemented by a major boundary extension, or as a transformation of an existing municipality into a new municipal corporation.
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The Local Government Structure Branch holds a facilitative role throughout this process. Staff provide advice on structure change to local governments, communities, and individuals. Staff facilitate the decision-making process and discussions between various stakeholders to the process. The Branch administers provincial financial assistance, which is available under the Local Government Grants Regulation to local communities undergoing change in local government structure. There are three components to this assistance:
- Restructure planning grants fund governance review studies and the public consultation process.
- Restructure assistance grants provide financial assistance to a restructured municipality. These are per capita grants provided in conjunction with assistance from other ministries.
- Restructure implementation grants fund the administrative costs for a restructured municipality.
The Branch also prepares Letters Patent for the consideration of Cabinet.
Municipal restructure is one form of structure change that enables citizens to get the local government and local services they want and need.
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Vote required for the incorporation of a new municipality (Section 8 of LGA) (First sections below)(1.1) If section 279 [no forced amalgamations] of the Community Charter applies, the vote under this section must be conducted separately in each of the existing municipalities.
(2) In any of the following circumstances, the minister may direct that a vote be taken of persons in an area specified by the minister respecting the proposed incorporation of those persons into a new municipality:
(a) on the request of the council of a municipality all or part of which is in the area;
(b) on the request of the board of trustees of an improvement district all or part of which is in the area;
(c) on the request of 2 or more residents of any part of the area that is not in a municipality;
(d) on the minister's own initiative, if the minister is of the opinion that those persons should, in the public interest,
(i) be incorporated into a new municipality, or
(ii) either be incorporated into a new municipality or be included in an existing municipality.
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No forced amalgamations (from Community Charter)
279 If a new municipality would include 2 or more existing municipalities, letters patent incorporating the new municipality may not be issued unless
(a) a vote has been taken in accordance with section 8 of the Local Government Act separately in each of the existing municipalities, and
(b) for each of those municipalities, more than 50% of the votes counted as valid favour the proposed incorporation.
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