Citizens’ Assembly process unfolding this spring

The Chamber has kept a watchful eye on the promise of better governance from fewer governments in our region. We’re pleased to see the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich have taken the next step to explore the pros and cons of merging municipalities.

A Toronto-based agency has been hired to create a Citizens’ Assembly, and has launched a new website at victoriasaanich.ca. The website highlights the following steps:

• In early April, 10,000 randomly selected households in Victoria and Saanich will receive a letter inviting a resident to volunteer for the Assembly. 
• In late May, 27 people from Saanich and 21 from Victoria will be randomly selected via Civic Lottery to serve on the Assembly. The lottery process ensures that members are selected fairly and are broadly representative of the demographic diversity of the two municipalities.
• Starting in September and concluding in April 2025, the members of the Assembly will spend eight Saturdays together learning, deliberating, and making recommendations that will help shape the future of Victoria and Saanich.
• The Assembly will explore the costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamation between the two municipalities. At the end of the process, the Assembly will produce a public report and formally submit it to both councils. 
• There will also be four Public Roundtable meetings — two in Victoria and two in Saanich — where the broader public may interact with Assembly members, learn more about the process, and inform the Assembly’s work.