Since the CRD was formed 60 years ago it has morphed into more than just the 13 municipalities indicated by columnist Trevor Hancock (How would we reinvent local government from scratch?, Times Colonist, Feb. 1, 2026).
While we agree with the premise that the current model of governance is not working, his remedy to start from scratch to reinvent local government is an unrealistic academic exercise.
There are now about 100 local politicians on the South Island and a 24-member CRD board. The CRD itself functions as a coordinating committee and a service delivery agent, rather than a level of local government that’s elected on a regional basis.
There are currently three electoral areas, namely Juan de Fuca, Southern Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Island.
Salt Spring is governed by a hybrid model combining the CRD for local services, along with the Islands Trust and its two trustees for land-use planning.
In 2023, a new Local Community Commission was elected with a CRD director and four commissioners to oversee 14 CRD services for the island.
While not mentioned, the region includes traditional territories of many First Nations where 11 of these hold reserve lands.
Nowadays, the sheer complexity and self-interest inherent with endless jurisdictions makes it extremely unrealistic that a broken governance model will be fixed easily or quickly.
Mr. Hancock’s support of zero-based budgeting – something we’ve been advocating for a decade – has merit and gets our wholehearted support.
Demanding more integrated and shared services regionally is also a promising strategy to add, especially in light of relentless oversized tax increases.
But, until the provincial government addresses the problems with the structure of local government, there’s a more pragmatic tribute to mark any ‘Diamond Jubilee’ festivities on the South Island.
During the fall referendum in Victoria and Saanich there’s a significant opportunity to vote to consolidate the governance of half the entire population of 460,000.
Last year the Citizens’ Assembly, an impartial advisory body tasked with representing the residents, investigated the costs, benefits and disadvantages of amalgamation.
It concluded a unified city is the best form of government for the two municipalities.
Ask yourself, isn’t approving the referendum a far more compelling and realistic approach to overcome inertia than starting from scratch to try and reinvent local government?
It’s more worthy of consideration and not an academic exercise.