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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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
