Author: islandword

  by Danny Zanbilowicz, Publisher Island WORD This election year, things are happening which may mean something, or nothing at all. For example, this year the Chamber of Commerce did not sponsor their usual all-candidates’ public meeting. Instead they organized a last-minute trimmed down version. There were explanations that involved critiquing the old format, (Ed. note- the “speed-dating” Chamber event was well received by participants) but the truth is- the Chamber was busy doing something else- spearheading a public campaign to garner support for “governance review”. In spite of anyone’s protesting otherwise, the reason people would go to the considerable trouble of initiating governance review is to discuss, and promote “amalgamation”. Which would mean the unification of our urban communities and part or all of the Comox Valley Regional District into one big governing body, like “Comox Valley”, or perhaps “Greater Courtenay”. Certainly there are strong arguments for governance review, or examining how our area is divided into separate jurisdictions- Cumberland, Courtenay, Comox and the RD, each with its own elected reps, and staff. For example- our ecosystem and wildlife corridors don’t recognize boundaries- nor do our systems of water distribution and waste management- better to think of them in terms of a regional whole. Then there’s the costly triplication of services like police, fire, and administrative staff. Opponents of governance review of any kind worry that a shift...