District of Saanich’s Post

The Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly (VSCA) on Municipal Amalgamation is preparing to convene its first of eight meetings. Forty-eight randomly selected residents of Saanich and Victoria will represent all residents of these municipalities on the Assembly, which is tasked with exploring the costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamation between the two municipalities and issuing a report to their councils. Much like a jury or task force, the deliberations of a Citizens’ Assembly are generally confidential and closed to the public. However, there are several ways for the public to get involved: ➡️ Make a Public Submission to the Assembly: provide your perspective on the question of amalgamation or raise an issue you would like the Assembly to consider. ➡️ Register for one of the Public Meetings (Nov 20 and 21): learn more about the Assembly’s process and the work of local government, provide your perspective on the issues and learn what your fellow residents think. ➡️ Sign up for Assembly Updates: receive copies of the presentations, reports, meeting summaries and other resources, so you can follow the Assembly’s work. Learn more at victoriasaanich.ca. #CitizensAssembly #VictoriaBC #Saanich #VSCA

The Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly (VSCA) on Municipal Amalgamation held its first meeting on Sept 21. Visit victoriasaanich.ca to read a summary of the meeting and view the presentations and other materials provided to the Assembly. There are 3 ways for residents to get involved in the Citizens’ Assembly: ➡️ Make a Public Submission to the Assembly: provide your perspective on the question of amalgamation or raise an issue you would like the Assembly to consider. ➡️ Register for one of the Public Meetings (Nov 20 and 21): learn more about the Assembly’s process and the work of local government, provide your perspective on the issues and learn what your fellow residents think. ➡️ Sign up for Assembly Updates: receive copies of the presentations, reports, meeting summaries and other resources, so you can follow the Assembly’s work. Learn more at victoriasaanich.ca. #CitizensAssembly #Victoria #Saanich #VSCA

The Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly (VSCA) on Municipal Amalgamation held its first meeting on Sept 21. Visit victoriasaanich.ca to read a summary of the meeting and view the presentations and other materials provided to the Assembly. There are 3 ways for residents to get involved in the Citizens’ Assembly: ➡️ Make a Public Submission to the Assembly: provide your perspective on the question of amalgamation or raise an issue you would like the Assembly to consider. ➡️ Register for one of the Public Meetings (Nov 20 and 21): learn more about the Assembly’s process and the work of local government, provide your perspective on the issues and learn what your fellow residents think. ➡️ Sign up for Assembly Updates: receive copies of the presentations, reports, meeting summaries and other resources, so you can follow the Assembly’s work. Learn more at victoriasaanich.ca. #citizensassembly #victoria #saanich #VSCA

🌍 Dr. Lars Brummel Speaks at EGPA Conference in Athens 🇬🇷 At the annual conference of the European Group for Public Administration, Dr. Lars Brummel presented key findings from the LEGITIMULT project on legitimacy in times of crisis. Find out more about his presentation on our website. 📖 #LEGITIMULT #PublicAdministration #Legitimacy #CrisisGovernance #egpa2024

Up to now, the traditional approach in respect of collective agreements was that the civil courts do not have jurisdiction in respect of the interpretation or application (inclusive of breaches) of collective agreements – e g Aucamp v South African Revenue Services [2014] 2 BLLR 152 (LC) and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality v South African Municipality Workers Union [2015] 1 BLLR 34 (LAC). The supreme court of appeal recently, in MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Limpopo v Leboho (2022) 33 SALLR 281 (SCA); (2022) 43 ILJ 2695 (SCA), adopted a very different approach that, as is apparent, will in future have an important impact as to the dispute-resolution path selected by a party who alleges non-compliance with a collective agreement. What does this approach entail? https://lnkd.in/dqT5WBjZ

Monitoring and implementing agreements is always the most delicate component of a #disputeresolution process. We are happy to see commitments being honored and solutions fully materialized in Inter-American Development Bank funded projects. #infrastructure #communitydeveloment #sustainability #MICI #peacebuilding

Check out page 30 for the National Rural Economic Developers Association article in FDI Alliance International! #ruraldevelopment #econdev #economicdevelopment

🎥 #WatchNow | Intervention by Dr Marthese Portelli, The Malta Chamber CEO during the 'Malta Vision 2050' event organised by the Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects and Times of Malta . Dr Portelli emphasises that to maintain an effective vision, the following key components are essential: 1️⃣ Clear Annual Milestones 2️⃣ Regular Assessments 3️⃣ Annual Vision Reviews 4️⃣ Legislative Continuity

On Tuesday 10 December 2024, a new leadership programme aimed at improving governance on Statia was officially launched through the signing of a memorandum of understanding by State Secretary Zsolt Szabó and Island Governor Alida Francis. The programme will provide tailored professional development opportunities for Statia’s Island Council members, commissioners, the island governor, clerks, and their staff. These opportunities include workshops, training, and education designed to strengthen governance, enhance fiscal responsibility, and boost the self-reliance of the island. The programme is part of a broader effort to professionalise the public administration on Statia, ensuring local leaders are well-equipped to manage the island’s affairs. The initiative also aims to reinforce local democracy by empowering political office holders and improving their effectiveness in their roles. Dutch professional associations will offer expertise and resources, collaborating closely with Statia’s government to ensure the programme is relevant to the island’s unique needs. The Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BZK) will fund the programme through a subsidy grant, making it a significant investment in the island’s future governance and leadership. This collaborative effort is expected to strengthen Statia’s capacity to manage its public administration independently while benefiting from ongoing support from the Netherlands. #gisstatia #improvinggovernance #PublicAdministration #insight

Was on a panel in Canberra yesterday for this mob. Delighted to be there especially as the session on housing was chaired by my friend, the rather wonderful and defo effective Linda Scott (GAICD) who is the retiring chair of the excellent Australian Local Government Association. I also caught up with a fellow panel member the equally smart Nicola Lemon now of KPMG formerly of Hume Community Housing. I said I would Commend, Defend and Offend - and did what it said on that tin. I Commended the Federal government for its focus on and innovation around housing - though pointed out that they had picked possibly the worst time for the private sector development sector in decades (cost of money, lack of skilled workers, uncertain market demand). I Defended local government who have been and must not remain the whipping boy for the failures of a pretty wrecked housing system: the idea that reducing the approval time for a planning application from 110 days to 80 in such a market context is the answer is ludicrous and parochial given the international nature of this housing crisis. But still we hear nonsense on this subject and absurd expectations placed on planning reforms alone when the private sector cannot build out the approvals/permissions they already have. I Offended, sort of, by pointing out that the private sector has never anywhere been able to build the number of homes we need - and we need to recover political will to do a shedload of public housing - and that negative gearing, QE and promiscuous interest rate policies had over financialised residential property since the Crash if not before and that we need a broader economic (and equality) re-set over decades to refocus investment priorities. Not that offensive actually. Truth is after all only inadvertently offensive. Its function is to promote thought. Anyway, I had fun. Great event and turn out and some very thought- provoking contributions from councillors present. Thanks also to Grimshaw for supporting my efforts at civic dialogue around core urban issues. Two upcoming Grimshaw Cities podcasts are BTW with CEOs of big city councils, one in Leeds and the other in Parramatta, Sydney.