An Epitaph on the latest amalgamation efforts.

Generally, taxpayers of a community are proud of their community, especially if that community has been in existence for over a century with rich historic and sentimental values.

Coldstream is such a community. It would take a lot of convincing with for residents to give up their community and replace it with a hastily cobbled dream by a self appointed group of businessmen who might have some ulterior motives not clearly apparent.

If there were some indications that huge tax savings could be reaped by a change of the existing governance system then some people might be convinced. However, there was no such evidence presented by the proponents. At first blush taxpayers of Coldstream would have been hit by a minimum of 10% tax increase based on the city's own tax calculator.

Other consequences would have been the increased cost of protection services (policing, fire protection) and the increased cost of taking over road maintenance of the rural areas, which are currently provincial responsibilities. The Province would love to have the amalgamation proceed as it would be some further downloading onto local governments. 

A review of previous amalgamations provide ample example of negative consequences. Mayor Rob Ford was the gift(?) of the incorporated boroughs in Ontario when they had to abide by a forced amalgamation. We have our own example with the amalgamated Okanagan Landing. My good friend, Alan Hill keeps reminding me every time we are having coffee (once a week) how unhappy he is with the changes and the cost increases. The sewage issue is one of his biggest concern.

The attached letter by former Councillor Bill Kastelen and Peter Tassie summarizes most peoples concerns with such study. Furthermore they pointed out a restructuring study carried out by Sussex Consultants in 1991 which provides a lot of information which the GVGS is seeking with the proposed study. You can access the study by clicking on the attached letter.

Hopefully, this issue is put to bed for now pending the outcome of this November's Municipal Election.

Thanks for the support of Coldstream residents.

See also an evaluation of the results of Ontario's great forced amalgamation project. It achieved the opposite of what the intention was.

 

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