Multiple municipalities deaden the economy

Re: “Region-wide economic development gathers steam,” Dec. 2.

It is interesting to note that most of the municipal councils in the capital region are voting to support the South Vancouver Island Economic Development Association.

Ironically, the greatest single factor retarding economic growth in the region is the heavy dead hand imposed by the dysfunctional municipal governance structure.

In 2013, the average annual expenditures of the 13 municipalities serving a population of 350,000 was $881.13 per capita. In comparison, the Municipality of Surrey, the same physical size as the capital region with similar land uses, provided municipal governance at an annual expenditure of $531.88 per capita.

Surrey has one municipal hall, one city administrator, one city engineer and nine members of council. In the capital region we have 13 separate administrations with 91 mayors and councillors.

There are 104 different municipal land use and building code bylaws in the capital region. The costs of building construction and maintenance are significantly enhanced by this myriad of bylaws.

In addition, the movement of goods and services within the region is encumbered by clogged traffic as a result of no effective overall transportation and transit planning. New major bridge crossings are being built by individual municipalities. These structures will be at capacity the day they are opened and represent future traffic bottlenecks.

The undertaking of a study of municipal governance in the capital region leading to the establishment of effective and accountable municipal government is by far the most important step toward vigorous economic growth on southern Vancouver Island. Earle Anthony Oak Bay