A joint committee meeting on the wording of a question on amalgamation on June 26, 2018.
Victoria and Saanich councils have agreed on the wording of a referendum question on amalgamation.
The decision about the wording was made in a joint committee meeting Tuesday night.
The question will read like this:
“Are you in favour of spending [an amount to be determined] for establishing a Citizens’ Assembly to explore the costs, benefits and disadvantages of the amalgamation between the District of Saanich and the City of Victoria?”
The cost figure will be determined by staff and will be included in the question.
Both councils still need to approve the question in separate council meetings. If ratified, Victoria and Saanich will put the referendum question on amalgamation on the Oct. 20 municipal election.
A similar amalgamation question was rejected bin North Cowichan and Duncan. While 59 per cent voted in favour of amalgamation in North Cowichan, 68 per cent voted against it in Duncan.
Under provincial legislation, 50 per cent of the votes in both municipalities is needed to favour amalgamation in order for a single new municipality to be created.
CHEK News
