Amalgamation of Metro Vancouver's municipalities

[mr.x]

Since it's something several people here have mentioned, and it's becoming quite apparent that it's needed.....


Could 'Montreal style' amalgation benefit Metro Vancouver economy?
1 Jan 2009 | Post by Daniel in City Focus, Editorial

In 2007 I had the opportunity to partake in a delegation that visited Montreal to determine the benefits and downsides of amalgamation. Depending on who you spoke to, either Montreal was heading for a positive more prosperous future, or it was going to hell in a handbasket. I believe the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

After sitting through dozens of briefings regarding how over 20 city administrations were forced to amalgamate, I couldn’t help but think how long it would take for cities in the metro Vancouver area to consider their options. Besides Toronto and Montreal, Vancouver is the only Canadian city where this type of amalgamation would realistically make sense.

Metro Vancouver faces some serious issues in the next decade. One of those 'sleeper' issues is the fact that unlike Toronto and Montreal, Vancouver does not have a regional economic development strategy. This is clearly a serious mistake for a region about to play host to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.

I have some personal experience (aka scars) on this file when in 2006 I was asked by Vancouver’s Mayor to initiate a dialogue with the Mayors of Surrey and Richmond to determine if we had some common interests. A number of meetings took place over the course of a year.

Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey incorporate the downtown business core, ports, airports, border crossings, etc. You would think it would be simple for these three cities to sit down and come up with a joint economic development plan to help promote our region abroad. Unfortunately, it wasn't that easy.

I quickly realized that due to the lack of amalgamation, each city remains fiercely competitive when it comes to the economic development file. I contend that most cities suffer from “civic myopicosis” - a medical condition which doesn’t allow them to think beyond their borders.

So it should come as no surprise when a multi-national company makes an investment in a new R & D facility in Richmond, it is perceived as “stealing jobs” from Surrey and vice-versa.

There are a few visionary folks out there who have been pushing the cause forward. One of them is Mark Betteridge, a highly regarded member of Vancouver Economic Development Commission.

He has been doggedly pursuing this file for years under the auspices of the Greater Vancouver Economic Development Initiative. Unfortunately, he discovered it takes a herculean amount of political leadership to realize the benefits of a coordinated regional economic development strategy.

Is the Montreal or Toronto version of amalgamation going to fly in metro Vancouver? Likely not in my lifetime, unless it is imposed on them as was the case in Ontario and Quebec. However, there are some key areas like economic development where joint efforts must be taken now, if cities in the Vancouver region want to retain their competitive edge.

I can report that my early meetings with Richmond and Surrey did eventually result in them signing a memorandum of understanding with Vancouver to promote economic development. Kudos to Watts and Brodie for taking this step. But a lot more must be done.

The Vancouver region needs to develop a cohesive regional economic development strategy signed on by every Mayor and Council. They need look look beyond their three year terms, and their borders.

Metro Vancouver cities also need to pro-actively seek out new investment opportunities. They also need to speak with one voice to the international business community who can invest almost anywhere they choose in this global marketplace. It simply doesn't make good business sense to have dozens of Metro Vancouver mayors selling the benefits of their respective cities to the CEO of an international corporation.

If cities within the Metro Vancouver region ever got really serious about the economic development file, I suspect that senior levels of government would step up in a big way to support them. That's been the case for the Toronto and Montreal regions for years, and their economies have benefitted as a result.

It's a shame when the world's business leaders arrive here in 2010, Metro Vancouver won’t have a coordinated business message to deliver. As they say, capitalizing on the Games is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, let’s hope the region’s leadership haven't missed the boat on this one.



http://www.citycaucus.com/2009/01/wo...ver-amalgamate







What I would like to see:

Vancouver
- Vancouver
- Richmond
- Burnaby
- New Westminster

North Vancouver
- District of North Vancouver
- North Vancouver
- West Vancouver

Coquitlam
- Coquitlam
- Port Coquitlam
- Port Moody
- Anmore
- Belcarra
- Pitt Meadows
- Maple Ridge

Surrey
- Surrey
- Delta
- White Rock
- Cloverdale
- Langley

[worldwide]

Maple Ridge as part of Surrey makes no sense to me? can you explain your reasoning?

[mr.x]

^ actually, I think I meant to put that in with Coquitlam. :p

[whatnext]

Combining Vancouver, the UEL and Burnaby are a no-brainer IMHO. Probably roll New West in there too. Richmond, by virtue of natural geographic barriers is a bit harder sell.

On the North Shore, the City and District of North Van should have been combined long ago.

Since Campbell's gone next election anyway, he should just go for broke and force this through.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Combining Vancouver, the UEL and Burnaby are a no-brainer IMHO. Probably roll New West in there too. Richmond, by virtue of natural geographic barriers is a bit harder sell.

On the North Shore, the City and District of North Van should have been combined long ago.

Since Campbell's gone next election anyway, he should just go for broke and force this through.

Is it in his interest?? Has he got the guts??

[metroXpress]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Combining Vancouver, the UEL and Burnaby are a no-brainer IMHO. Probably roll New West in there too. Richmond, by virtue of natural geographic barriers is a bit harder sell.

Vancouver International Airport...easy enough to guess where it is

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by worldwide

Maple Ridge as part of Surrey makes no sense to me? can you explain your reasoning?

Originally Posted by mr.x

^ actually, I think I meant to put that in with Coquitlam. :p

Unless I read it wrong, I think Mr. X DID include Maple Ridge with Coquitlam. Either my eyesight's going or yours is.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Unless I read it wrong, I think Mr. X DID include Maple Ridge with Coquitlam. Either my eyesight's going or yours is.

haha, the power of editing.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by mr.x

haha, the power of editing.

Heh heh heh. Sly Fox

[go_leafs_go02]

And looking at Surrey specifically, I would honestly think it would do better to divide that up in 3 ways but amalgamate in three separate directions.

North Delta should be combined with Whalley, Newton, Guildford, Fleetwood, and Fraser Heights into one. They are one large urban area and share alot in common (North Delta & Newton especially)

White Rock & South Surrey/Crescent Beach should be amalgamated to form the 2nd type of North Vancouver.

Langley City should merge with Cloverdale to become it's own municipality.

The geographic boundaries of the current districts and municipalities simply do not make much sense anymore.

Quick Map Idea.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...279715dcd0ef7c

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

And looking at Surrey specifically, I would honestly think it would do better to divide that up in 3 ways but amalgamate in three separate directions.

North Delta should be combined with Whalley, Newton, Guildford, Fleetwood, and Fraser Heights into one. They are one large urban area and share alot in common (North Delta & Newton especially)

White Rock & South Surrey/Crescent Beach should be amalgamated to form the 2nd type of North Vancouver.

Langley City should merge with Cloverdale to become it's own municipality.

The geographic boundaries of the current districts and municipalities simply do not make much sense anymore.

Quick Map Idea.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...279715dcd0ef7c

as a surrey resident proud of my cities history i would hate to see surrey lose both cloverdale and crescent as these are some of surreys earliest settlements and where its history is held

also giving up port kells all to langley would be a bad thing as this is some of surreys most built up industrial area

and also surrey would be giving up alot of its farm land it has worked on to protect in your map

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by Whalleyboy

as a surrey resident proud of my cities history i would hate to see surrey lose both cloverdale and crescent as these are some of surreys earliest settlements and where its history is held

also giving up port kells all to langley would be a bad thing as this is some of surreys most built up industrial area

and also surrey would be giving up alot of its farm land it has worked on to protect in your map

And I'm sure Cloverdale, Crescent Beach and White Rock would likely all love to get rid of Whalley and Newton and keep their tax money in their locality.

Surrey would love to develop the ALR, they haven't done anything to protect it, they're simply forced to by the province.

There are three distinct parts to Surrey, and each of the three really have nothing in common with the other two parts of Surrey.

[invisibleairwaves]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

And looking at Surrey specifically, I would honestly think it would do better to divide that up in 3 ways but amalgamate in three separate directions.

North Delta should be combined with Whalley, Newton, Guildford, Fleetwood, and Fraser Heights into one. They are one large urban area and share alot in common (North Delta & Newton especially)

White Rock & South Surrey/Crescent Beach should be amalgamated to form the 2nd type of North Vancouver.

Langley City should merge with Cloverdale to become it's own municipality.

The geographic boundaries of the current districts and municipalities simply do not make much sense anymore.

Quick Map Idea.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...279715dcd0ef7c

This gets my vote.

I'm not convinced of the benefits of Metro-Vancouver-wide amalgamation. We might not have the "fiefdoms" that we do now, but there'll still be NIMBYs around to "protect" their communities from much-needed projects.

The one thing I would like to see is a Metro Vancouver regional police force to get us off the RCMP teat. I don't think amalgamation is necessary for that to happen though.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

And looking at Surrey specifically, I would honestly think it would do better to divide that up in 3 ways but amalgamate in three separate directions.

North Delta should be combined with Whalley, Newton, Guildford, Fleetwood, and Fraser Heights into one. They are one large urban area and share alot in common (North Delta & Newton especially)

White Rock & South Surrey/Crescent Beach should be amalgamated to form the 2nd type of North Vancouver.

Langley City should merge with Cloverdale to become it's own municipality.

The geographic boundaries of the current districts and municipalities simply do not make much sense anymore.

Quick Map Idea.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...279715dcd0ef7c

This sounds like a pretty good division to me. It makes sense to have our new "metropolitan boroughs" (to coin a Toronto terminology) fit together this way, perhaps with a bit of modification here and there, not too much.

Got any ideas for the rest of the Metro area? How would you amalgamate Burnaby, PoCo, New West, Richmond, Vancouver City, the North Shore ... ?

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

This sounds like a pretty good division to me. It makes sense to have our new "metropolitan boroughs" (to coin a Toronto terminology) fit together this way, perhaps with a bit of modification here and there, not too much.

Got any ideas for the rest of the Metro area? How would you amalgamate Burnaby, PoCo, New West, Richmond, Vancouver City, the North Shore ... ?

I've only lived SoF, I don't even know the boundaries really of anything north of the fraser. I might give it a shot, but I don't have too much knowledge. Merging Vancouver with Burnaby & New West I think would be good.

[rbostyle]

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

I've only lived SoF, I don't even know the boundaries really of anything north of the fraser. I might give it a shot, but I don't have too much knowledge. Merging Vancouver with Burnaby & New West I think would be good.

It's usually a main road or body of water, so the boundaries aren't that obscure - a quick read of a few maps and you'll be all set. I.e. Boundary Rd divides Vancouver from Burnaby. Doesn't get much more obvious than that.

Part of me feels like dividing up current cities into larger cities makes little sense. Either we should pull a Calgary and just have one super city region, or subdivide it down from how it is now. For example, living in North Delta, I feel completely unattached to the rest of Delta. Similar with Cloverdale's relationship to Surrey, Deep Cove to the District of North Van, and so on. I think it would be great to have dozens of smaller, defined communities/towns - letting each define their own urban fabric, and start to get a bit more diversity in the built form of the region, and allowing the distinct culture of each area to really come through instead of just wearing the 'Surrey' or 'Delta' banner.

Again, either that or just one massive City of Vancouver consisting of the entire Metro. Those are my thoughts.

[Stingray2004]

Amalgamation first started out with both Abbotsford and Matsqui combining in 1995 to form Abbotsford after voters approved same via referendum in both locales.

The next obvious naturals are:

1. The City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver;
2. The City of Langley and the District of Langley;

It's been talked about in those locales for years but for various reasons (lower taxes/lower debt load in one municipality compared to the other) nothing has ever come to fruition.

Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge also seem to be naturals.

I also agree with the following post that North Delta should be combined with Surrey since they are contiguous geographically and North Delta is "a million miles away" from Tsawwassen/Ladner.

I also agree that South Surrey ("Greater White Rock") should be amalgamated with White Rock and that possibly the Cloverdale area should become part of Langley. BTW, White Rock, one of Surrey's wards back in the day, voted to split with Surrey back in 1957.

But these matters are for local municipalities to decide and not for the provincial gov't to step in as an uproar would ensue that would amount to political suicide.

Greater Victoria also has the same problem with 14(?) municipalities within it's boundary. Again, some "natural" amalgamation should also occur within that area.

Baby step local municipal amalgamations, via local referendum, is the way to go. Perhaps the provincial gov't can assist in that regard.

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

North Delta should be combined with Whalley, Newton, Guildford, Fleetwood, and Fraser Heights into one. They are one large urban area and share alot in common (North Delta & Newton especially)

White Rock & South Surrey/Crescent Beach should be amalgamated to form the 2nd type of North Vancouver.

Langley City should merge with Cloverdale to become it's own municipality.

The geographic boundaries of the current districts and municipalities simply do not make much sense anymore.

Quick Map Idea.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...279715dcd0ef7c

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Amalgamation first started out with both Abbotsford and Matsqui combining in 1995 to form Abbotsford after voters approved same via referendum in both locales.

The next obvious naturals are:

1. The City of North Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver;
2. The City of Langley and the District of Langley;

It's been talked about in those locales for years but for various reasons (lower taxes/lower debt load in one municipality compared to the other) nothing has ever come to fruition.

Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows/Maple Ridge also seem to be naturals.

I also agree with the following post that North Delta should be combined with Surrey since they are contiguous geographically and North Delta is "a million miles away" from Tsawwassen/Ladner.

I also agree that South Surrey ("Greater White Rock") should be amalgamated with White Rock and that possibly the Cloverdale area should become part of Langley. BTW, White Rock, one of Surrey's wards back in the day, voted to split with Surrey back in 1957.

But these matters are for local municipalities to decide and not for the provincial gov't to step in as an uproar would ensue that would amount to political suicide.

Greater Victoria also has the same problem with 14(?) municipalities within it's boundary. Again, some "natural" amalgamation should also occur within that area.

Baby step local municipal amalgamations, via local referendum, is the way to go. Perhaps the provincial gov't can assist in that regard.

It will probably happen in baby steps at first, then everyone will see the writing on the wall and we'll either change or fight it.

The first true test will be White Rock.

White Rock is nearing bankruptcy, and the current economic climate only hurts more. Just recently the city council voted to keep the fire department internalized. They were leaning towards outsourcing it to Surrey to save money, but met stiff opposition to that simple idea. From an economic and even practical standpoint, it makes sense to not have overlapping fire departments so close to each other. But the citizens of White Rock fought it to the last. White Rock even has it's own water supply, supplied by a private company that each house pays bills for.

The fire department is a huge expense for the city, and for their size I don't see how they can keep paying for it. There is little new development in the city boarders, even along the waterfront there are empty properties and condos that have gone unsold for over a year.

Many of the roads are going to need resurfacing in the next few years and I just don't see where they'll find the money. They've been raising the business tax, but that's only forced many of the stores out to across the street into Surrey, or has made The Boardwalk a revolving door of restaurants, with the Boat House and Charlie Don't Surf being the only places that don't seem to go out of business on an annual basis.

White Rock will crack, and when they do we'll see what happens. There are two options floated around if the city can't survive: Become part of Surrey or try to steal the wealthy parts of South Surrey/Crescent beach into White Rock. If they chose to give up the fight and join Surrey (and when you stand on 16th you can really tell the Surrey Side from the White Rock side by the level of development and quality of public services) expect to see a shift in Metro Thinking.

But if a small place like White Rock can survive financially on their own, then is there really a point to amalgamation? (besides being able to steamroll over people who disagree with you on planning and development).

[LotusLand]

White Rock amalgamtes with Surrey would be fought to death by White Rock residents. The last thing they want to say is "I live in Surrey", even if it South Surreyish, still Surrey.

[go_leafs_go02]

Originally Posted by LotusLand

White Rock amalgamtes with Surrey would be fought to death by White Rock residents. The last thing they want to say is "I live in Surrey", even if it South Surreyish, still Surrey.

Yep, the only way they would welcome it is if South Surrey separated from Newton/Whalley and combined with White Rock (much like my map from page 1 of this thread.

I'm actually surprised there really isn't any movement from South Surrey residents such as in Morgan Creek and the like to separate from the North and come sovereign at a municipal level. You would think they wouldn't like their tax dollars paying for stuff up there, while the tax base up there would be much lower at least from a residential level.