With the idea for some form of regional amalgamation on the minds of many, the City of Colwood is turning to residents to find out what they think.
“What does it mean to people in the community?” asked Mayor Carol Hamilton. “What do they think it will achieve if that were to take place? Is there an interest even in doing it?”
This fall, a group of residents and council members will begin meeting to look at options for public consultation. Hamilton expects it will take six to eight months of open houses and surveying the community to get a sense of public opinion.
The results will help council decide whether to support placing a referendum question about Capital Region amalgamation on the ballot for the November 2014 civic elections.
Referendum lobby group Amalgamation Yes has come up with the question: “Are you in favour of reducing the number of municipalities in the CRD through amalgamation?”
The group is taking this question around the region in hopes of drumming up support for further investigation.
“If we hear resoundingly from the community, ‘Back off, no, we don’t want to be the CRD,’ then, fair enough,” Hamilton said. “Maybe it’s time to either pick it up or put it to bed.”
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com