More than electing a new council this fall, District of North Vancouver voters are being asked to formally declare whether their new government should support a study into North Vancouver amalgamation.
District council voted unanimously Monday night on a non-binding ballot question intended to test whether there is true mandate for reunification. The question that will appear on the Oct. 20 election ballot reads:
“Do you support the establishment and funding, not to exceed $100,000, of an advisory body comprised jointly of residents of the City of North Vancouver and residents of the District of North Vancouver to investigate the costs, benefits and potential implications of reunifying the two municipalities?”
Council’s vote follows the release of survey results last month that found overwhelming support from residents in both North Vancouvers on whether the two “should jointly investigate the true costs and benefits of amalgamation” – 91 per cent support by current district residents and 82 per cent support by city residents.
“We have to get it into the hands of the people. We cannot leave it in the hands of politicians that are making decisions in a room without windows. This is an opportunity to open a window,” said Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn.
But, while the district may be ready to pop the question, the city’s council will still have to be talked into courtship, Coun. Robin Hicks cautioned.
“If the city doesn’t open their books, spending any amount of money is an entire waste of time,” he said. “In order to go ahead, both municipalities should be totally committed to it because the negotiations and the … integration of operations, policies and financial arrangements are very complex.”
With the exception of Coun. Don Bell, the current city council has shown no interest in the latest overtures from the district towards reunification. City Mayor Darrell Mussatto said the district was being unneighbourly by conducting the survey and forging ahead without first meeting with city council directly.
District Coun. Roger Bassam, however, pointed out it will be up to the next city council sworn in after the election to determine how much the city bureaucracy helps or hinders the work of the citizen advisory body.
“I remain very hopeful the political leadership in the city will sincerely engage in this process and support the residents of the city and district as they study the subject. I recognize that even if they do not support amalgamation themselves, hopefully they will at least respect the will of the city residents and support this examination thoroughly,” he said.
The city was carved out of the district in 1907 when a group of property speculators petitioned the province for a new municipality that would be cheaper to service than the sprawling district, which, at the time, went from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove.
The vote passed 5-0. Coun. Lisa Muri and Mayor Richard Walton were absent from the meeting.
