Collected by: Vancouver Island University

Archived since: Jun, 2018

Description:

In 2018, citizens of the municipalities of North Cowichan and the City of Duncan voted in a referendum on whether or not to amalgamate. This referendum followed an earlier referendum in November 2014, when voters in both municipalities were asked: “Are you in favor of spending time and resources to study the costs and benefits of the amalgamation of the municipalities of North Cowichan and the City of Duncan?” The 2014 outcome in favour of studying the matter of amalgamation led to the formation of a Citizens’ Assembly on Municipal Amalgamation, which reached consensus and issued a recommendation in May 2017 in favour of amalgamating the two municipalities. On June 23, 2018, the referendum was held on this question: “Do you support The Corporation of the District of North Cowichan and The Corporation of the City of Duncan amalgamating into a new municipality?” For amalgamation to pass required the support of more than 50 per cent of voters in each municipality. In response to the question, roughly 59 per cent of residents in North Cowichan voted for the amalgamation while 68 per cent of people in Duncan voted against it. Consequently, the referendum did not pass and amalgamation did not proceed. Matters and representations related to amalgamation that were explored through this process and referendum are of interest not only to citizens of the two municipalities, but also to researchers, policy makers, and other levels of government, including other BC municipalities, such as Saanich and Victoria, as they consider amalgamation.

Subject:   Government - Cities,  Politics & Elections