We contacted the City of Duncan asking for the figures on the cost to Duncan taxpayers of the recent Amalgamation campaign and Referendum.
Paige McWilliam from the City of Duncan provided us with the document below, which was presented to the Committee of the Whole at its meeting on 3 July 2018.
Note that the financial costs to the City of Duncan, and thus to Duncan Taxpayers, of the Amalgamation campaign and referendum are stated as $68,725.79. Note that the $12,000 figure stated as the Referendum cost is a “Budgeted” figure; the actual costs of the Referendum may change as figures are compiled.
Note that the total cost to taxpayers, including the Municipality of North Cowichan and Province of British Columbia, is currently given as $278,510.90.
On 5 July 2018 Paige McWilliam from the City of Duncan advised us that the final figure for the City of Duncan’s share of referendum costs was $11,108 rather than the budgeted $12,000.
This makes the final cost of the City of Duncan’s share of Amalgamation Referendum costs, including Citizens Assembly, Technical Report, Communications and Administration of the 23 June 2018 Referendum, to be $67,833.79.
City of Duncan financials for costs of the Amalgamation campaign and Referendum – 3 July 2018
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We contacted the City of Duncan asking for the figures on the cost to Duncan taxpayers of the recent Amalgamation campaign and Referendum.
Paige McWilliam from the City of Duncan provided us with the document below, which was presented to the Committee of the Whole at its meeting on 3 July 2018.
Note that the financial costs to the City of Duncan, and thus to Duncan Taxpayers, of the Amalgamation campaign and referendum are stated as $68,725.79. Note that the $12,000 figure stated as the Referendum cost is a “Budgeted” figure; the actual costs of the Referendum may change as figures are compiled.
Note that the total cost to taxpayers, including the Municipality of North Cowichan and Province of British Columbia, is currently given as $278,510.90.
We will have more to say about this in upcoming posts.
Update: on 5 July 2018 Paige McWilliam from the City of Duncan advised us that the final figure for the City of Duncan’s share of referendum costs was $11,108 rather than the budgeted $12,000.
City of Duncan financials for costs of the Amalgamation campaign and Referendum – 3 July 2018
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Duncan Councillor Roger Bruce is a very vocal advocate of Amalgamation of the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan.
In support of Amalgamation, Roger Bruce has recently released this video and posted it on Youtube:
DuncanTaxpayers.ca says No to Amalgamation of Duncan and North Cowichan
We disagree with Councillor Bruce’s pro-Amalgamation position and we urge Duncan residents to Vote No in the Amalgamation Referendum on 23 June 2018.
In the interest of clarification we would like to make some comments on another issue Councillor Bruce has raised while arguing in favour of Amalgamation.
In making various pro-Amalgamation arguments online – on Facebook and other platforms – Roger Bruce has repeatedly made statements to the effect that he is the only member of Duncan City Council who pays City of Duncan taxes.
He has also made this statement in the video shown above.
With regard to other members of Duncan City Council, we note that Councillors Michelle Bell, John Horgan and Michelle Staples are not residents of the City of Duncan and therefore do not pay residential property taxes in the City of Duncan. As far as we are aware, they do not own businesses in Duncan and do not pay City of Duncan business taxes.
City of Duncan Councillor Sharon Jackson (photo: City of Duncan)
Councillor Sharon Jackson was a Duncan resident until December 2017, when she sold her house in Duncan and moved to the CVRD. It can therefore be argued that she is not paying City of Duncan taxes at this time although we note that she was a City of Duncan taxpayer at the time of the last Municipal election in 2014 and she remained a City of Duncan taxpayer until December 2017. She has stated to us that she intends to move back into the City of Duncan as soon as she can.
Mayor Phil Kent and Councillor Tom Duncan apparently rent residential accommodation in the City of Duncan so, by Councillor Roger Bruce’s argument, Mayor Kent and Councillor Duncan do not pay City of Duncan taxes although they are City of Duncan residents. We will not address this argument here; readers can form their own opinions on that.
Councillor Bruce’s statements that he is the only person on Duncan City Council who pays City of Duncan taxes have given many people the impression that Councillor Roger Bruce lives in the City of Duncan. Apparently that is not the case; we have been informed that Councillor Bruce actually lives in the Municipality of North Cowichan.
But Councillor Bruce does pay City of Duncan taxes. He owns commercial property, on which he pays City of Duncan taxes, at the south east corner of Cairnsmore Street and Government Street. This property contains the buildings currently occupied by the 49th Parallel Grocery and the Fishbowl Cafe.
Here is a Google Street View image of this property in May 2015:
Councillor Bruce also owns adjacent properties to the south on Government Street between Cairnsmore Street and Herbert Street. In the past he has sought to develop these lots and has applied to the City of Duncan for variances for that purpose.
Here is a Google Street View image of these properties in May 2015:
City of Duncan Councillor Roger Bruce (photo: City of Duncan)
So there is no doubt that Councillor Roger Bruce is a City of Duncan taxpayer. He pays City of Duncan taxes on the commercial properties shown above.
But it seems he is not a resident of the City of Duncan. We have been told that he resides in the Municipality of North Cowichan. We have asked Councillor Bruce for clarification of this but, as of this date, we have not received an answer.
So for Duncan taxpayers and residents who have heard Councillor Roger Bruce’s statement and arguments in favour of Amalgamation and that he is the only member of Duncan City Council who pays City of Duncan taxes, be aware that, while Councillor Roger Bruce is in fact a City of Duncan taxpayer, he is apparently a resident of the Municipality of North Cowichan.
This is in no way meant as a personal attack on Councillor Roger Bruce. We are simply seeking to clarify his repeated statements that he is the only member of Duncan City Council who pays City of Duncan taxes.
We urge City of Duncan residents to Vote No on 23 June 2018.
DuncanTaxpayers.ca says No to Amalgamation of Duncan and North Cowichan
Patrick Hrushowy, who ran the Cowichan Pro Amalgamation campaign in 2018. (photo: Cowichan Valley Citizen)
““Elections BC has approved my application for registration as a Local Election Advertising Sponsor [for Cowichan Pro Amalgamation],” Hrushowy said. “This means I can legally raise and spend money in the debate and discussions on the merits of amalgamation.”
The Cowichan Valley Citizen describes Patrick Hrushowy as, “A former columnist for the now-defunct Cowichan News Leader-Pictorial, [who] has long called for amalgamation.”
But Patrick Hrushowy is far more than a “former columnist for the now-defunct Cowichan News Leader-Pictorial.” He is a veteran political operative and lobbyist with extensive connections to the BC LIberal Party.
He is currently a political consultant with WPC Inc., Suite 660 – 475 West Georgia Street, Vancouver BC V6B 4M9. The firm’s longer name is Western Policy Consultants – WPC Government Relations. The Western Policy Consultants website describes Patrick Hrushowy as:
“Patrick Hrushowy is a senior and respected advisor, offering strategic advice to clients wishing to position themselves and their interests to their best possible advantage with the provincial and local governments. Mr. Hrushowy has worked extensively in the fields of energy, forest products, environmental services and land development.
Mr. Hrushowy has worked in both the public and private sectors in senior management positions and has devoted the majority of his career to offering services to interests facing particular challenges or objectives with governments. His experience allows him to work deep into the system, if that is required, to guide clients toward achievement of their objectives; whether that be the issuance of a permit or approvals, or the development of a policy framework that would support a client’s objectives.
Mr. Hrushowy worked to smooth the introduction of natural gas to consumers on Vancouver Island and worked extensively with private sector proponents during the privatizing of BC Hydro’s natural gas distribution assets. He also worked closely with companies that pioneered deeper extraction of petrochemical feedstock from the province’s natural gas production stream.
Prior to entering consulting service, Mr Hrushowy was Director of Public Affairs for the Council of Forest Industries where he played a major role in lobbying the provincial government and represented the industry during a period of rapid development of environmental regulations.
More recently Mr. Hrushowy worked closely with local governments around the province developing and implementing communications strategies in support of local government spending referenda and alternative spending approval processes.
This familiarity with local government has positioned Mr. Hrushowy well to provide clients leadership advice that lead to achieving approvals for major land development proposals for clients on Vancouver Island. Mr. Hrushowy’s involvement with political life in BC has seen him successfully manage a number of election campaigns in both local and provincial elections.”
Here are some more web pages mentioning Patrick Hrushowy:
Patrick Hrushowy may be represented as an ordinary Cowichan Valley citizen in favour of Amalgamation but he is, in reality, a very experienced political operative and lobbyist who is currently a consultant with a high profile Vancouver based “Government Relations” firm.
So when you hear comments from Cowichan Pro Amalgamation, bear in mind that it is the creation of a very experienced political lobbyist who is directly involved in its fund raising, strategy and messaging.
We do not share his view of Amalgamation of the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan and we urge Duncan residents to Vote No on 23 June.
Don’t be fooled by a very slick Cowichan Pro Amalgamation campaign operated by a veteran lobbyist and “Government Relation Consultant”.
DuncanTaxpayers.ca says No to Amalgamation of Duncan and North Cowichan
Duncan Councillor Roger Bruce is a very vocal advocate of Amalgamation of the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan.
In support of Amalgamation, Roger Bruce has recently released this video and posted it on Youtube:
We disagree with the pro-Amalgamation message Roger Bruce is promoting and we urge our fellow Duncan residents to Vote No on 23 June 2018.
We can’t help noting that this video cost a fair bit of money. Drone video and aerial photography is not inexpensive.
So we can’t help wondering who is funding the Pro-Amalgamation campaign and who stands to benefit from Amalgamation if it is approved. We don’t see Amalgamation benefiting the residents of Duncan.
DuncanTaxpayers.ca says No to Amalgamation of Duncan and North Cowichan
One of the most frequent arguments put forward by Cowichan Pro-Amalgamation is that policing costs will become prohibitively expensive and unsustainable for the City of Duncan when the population of Duncan exceeds 5000 people. The proponents of Amalgamation therefore argue that City of Duncan residents should support Amalgamation of the City of Duncan with North Cowichan so that policing costs can be shared over a larger tax base.
Policing is one place where the strength of a united amalgamated community is needed without question. They have been preparing for years for the day when Duncan’s population exceeds 5,000 and we must shoulder our full share of policing costs. More than $8 million of transition support the provincial government has offered would go toward off-setting policing cost increases. Duncan is likely already exceeding the population threshold and would face these increased costs even without amalgamation.
Its time for Duncan to actively embrace the future and take charge of its policing future.”
DuncanTaxpayers.ca did some research into this issue and here is some of what we found.
As noted by Cowichan Pro Amalgamation, any municipality with a population greater than 5000 people is required to pay for policing costs. Municipalities with less than 5000 people have their policing costs subsidized by the Province of British Columbia.
The population figures are taken from StatsCan Census data; the most recent Census was conducted in 2016 and shows the City of Duncan’s population as 4,944. The previous Census in 2011 showed the City of Duncan’s population as 4,932. The next Census will be conducted in 2021.
Here is some of what we learned from City of Duncan records.
In 2011, prior to the 2011 Census data being released, the Province of British Columbia anticipated the population of the City of Duncan would exceed 5000 people and required the City of Duncan to pay for its own policing costs.
The policing costs attributed to the City of Duncan by the Province of B.C. were equivalent to the cost of 10 constables at the North Cowichan RCMP Detatchment. The City of Duncan suggested the costs should be equivalent to 8 RCMP members and this was being negotiated with the Province.
In response to the Province of B.C. ruling, the City of Duncan raised its taxes by 12% in 2011 to cover the costs of policing. But then the 2011 Census was released, showing the City of Duncan population was 4,932 and that the Province of B.C. had been therefore been mistaken in its projection of a Duncan population exceeding 5000 people.
The City of Duncan therefore went back to being subsidized by the Province of B.C. for its policing costs. The policing costs paid by the City of Duncan in 2011 were refunded to the City of Duncan by the Province of B.C. and the Province resumed paying the policing costs of the City of Duncan, as it does for all municipalities with a population less than 5000 people. The Province still subsidizes Duncan’s policing costs.
But recall that in 2011 the City of Duncan had increased its taxes by 12% to cover the new policing costs assigned to it by the Province of B.C. Rather than reduce its municipal taxes to the pre-2011 levels, the City of Duncan maintained its tax rates at the 2011 levels and put the funds collected for policing into a Police Bridging Capital Fund, which it has since used to finance projects like dike maintenance and the Canada Avenue repaving and development. The City of Duncan then kept the the policing subsidy funds paid to it each fiscal by the Province of B.C.
The cost of policing assigned to the City of Duncan is still subsidized annually by the Province of B.C. and will be until at least 2021, when the next Census data is released.
We spoke to City of Duncan staff who indicated that, in the event the City of Duncan population exceeds 5000 in 2021, the City of Duncan anticipates it can cover the costs of policing from the increased tax rates of 12% it imposed in 2011 when the City of Duncan was mistakenly directed by the Province of B.C. to cover its policing costs.
Based on this information, we think the Cowichan Pro-Amalgamation argument – that the City of Duncan should amalgamate with North Cowichan because the City of Duncan will not be able to afford policing costs if its population goes over 5000 people and the City loses the Province of B.C. subsidy of its policing costs – is seriously flawed.
Based on this information, we do not consider policing costs to be a valid argument in favour of Amalgamation. As a result, we still intend to vote against Amalgamation in the June Referendum.
Please don’t be fooled by the very slick and well financed campaign being mounted by Cowichan Pro-Amalgamation, which is far more concerned about the interests of North Cowichan than about those of the City of Duncan. All we need to defeat the pro-Amalgamation campaign is 51% of Duncan residents to vote against it. Please Vote No in the upcoming Amalgamation Referendum in June.
DuncanTaxpayers.ca says No to Amalgamation of Duncan and North Cowichan
We are residents of the City of Duncan, B.C. and we have started this website to counter the well financed campaign in favour of the Amalgamation of the City of Duncan with the neighbouring Municipality of North Cowichan.
Whatever the result of the Amalgamation Referendum vote on 23 June 2018 we will continue this website as a way of providing ongoing information to the taxpayers of Duncan.
We will Vote No in the Amalgamation Referendum on 23 June 2018 and we encourage our fellow citizens of Duncan to do likewise.
We will add more to this website in the days ahead.
