Keep voters in the loop on amalgamation

Re: “All politicians biased on amalgamation, Young tells students,” Oct. 23.

The article tells about a Royal Roads University team trying to figure out how to gauge opinions on municipal integration. Good luck trying to budge the inert bias against any form of amalgamation in our over-governed region. Mere mention sends politicians scurrying for cover, shouting about the inherent dangers to “our quality of life.”

To “examine” the issue, the province awards a $95,000 contract to a former cabinet minister who heads a firm called Circle Square Solutions. Good luck finding a solution to squaring that circle.

Are taxpayers expected to accept, without question, that 90-plus politicians and their attendant municipal bureaucracies are necessary to govern 350,000 people?

Or that the Capital Regional District demonstrates efficient management of tax dollars and co-ordination of regional services?

How is it possible that Saskatoon, with a comparable population, governs with one mayor, 10 councillors, one co-ordinated bureaucracy and posts past, present and future operating and capital costs and the source of funds needed from the taxpayer?

Good luck trying to find, for comparative purposes, similar information for our 13 municipalities.

It’s beyond high time for those who govern us to come clean and provide unbiased facts on the pros and cons of full or partial amalgamation that will enable taxpayers to vote on the issue with knowledge.

Stop the shell game. Like marriage, how do you know you won’t like it until you’ve tried it? Ron Devion Brentwood Bay