Sunday, May 4, 2014

Amalgamation It's as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. First Step

In December of 2014, the City Council and the District Council must pass (4 votes) a motion to officially notify the Provincial Government they are jointly starting an amalgamation process.  "Be it resolved a joint committee be struck with the City/District to write up an Amalgamation Plan which will be reported back on in September of 2016.

2. Second Step

From December of 2014 to September of 2016, the Joint Committee would form many working groups of sub-committees to work out the many details.  They would also be empowered to commission independent studies on how to do amalgamation in the least expensive way.

As one example, there would have to be a sub-committee on the Lonsdale Energy Corporation. It  is a City initiative but the District has turned down any participation in the LEC. So this sub-committee would have to make a recommendation on whether the new united North Vancouver would own the LEC or it would be sold?  The point is that with this and as with many other issues, have to be discussed as part of the building of a detailed Amalgamation Plan, not prior to the to the motion in Step One.

3. Third Step

Once the Amalgamation Plan is delivered to the Provincial Government and they have authorized a binding referendum for October of 2017, the voters of all of North Van have a year to study the plan and then vote on it. If successful, during the regular election of 2018, there would an election for one North Van council.