News Release

GREATER VICTORIA -  Capital area stakeholders, citizens and local government officials are being invited to participate in a virtual open house as part of the Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative.
 
The virtual open house will use the PlaceSpeak engagement platform to allow participants to provide feedback and engage in an on-line discussion about local government service delivery.
 
The consulting team from Urban Systems and Circle Square Solutions have now discussed the initiative with all 13 municipal councils and the Capital Region District Board of Directors. Fact sheets describing how 16 individual local government service areas are currently delivered have been prepared and can be viewed on the PlaceSpeak site.
 
The PlaceSpeak website will allow for a broader review and discussion of these services and will equip the consulting team with the information needed to provide local governments with potential opportunities for integrated services and governance. This final report will be available in early 2017.
 
PlaceSpeak will be live until December 15, 2016. In the Capital region, the public is encouraged to register through:
www.placespeak.com/CISGI

Local governments are accountable to their taxpayers, so a serious consideration of service and governance integration in the Capital Area just makes sense. The provincial government is helping to facilitate the discussion among the region’s municipalities. Following the completion of the final report, local governments in the region will decide on next steps.
 
Media, for more information, please contact:

Dale Wall
Consultant
(250) 479-3524


Quick Facts:
 
The Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative is a product of a shared understanding reached between the region’s municipalities and the Province in March, 2016.
 
The initiative recognizes the need for more information on service and governance best practices, changes and opportunities. Further, this initiative supports principles of collaboration, consultation and communication.
 
Urban Systems and Circle Square Solutions submitted a successful joint proposal through BC Bid, in May 2016, to help implement the initiative.
 
The project team will prepare a report including:

• information on how services are currently delivered in the region; best practices from other local governments; and
•  challenges/opportunities identified by area local governments associated with various approaches to governance and service provision.

 
Founded in 1975, Urban Systems is a private company that works with clients to help build prosperous, sustainable, resilient and healthy communities. Urban Systems operates offices in nine B.C. communities.
 
Founded in 2013, Circle Square Solutions is a full-service policy and governance consulting firm based in British Columbia. Staff includes George Abbott, former B.C. provincial government minister and Chris Trumpy, former B.C. provincial government deputy minister.
 
The Province of British Columbia awarded up to $94,500 to Urban Systems and Circle Square Solutions for their work on the Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative.
 
An evaluation panel consisting of staff from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and senior staff from capital area local governments selected the joint proposal submitted by Urban Systems and Circle Square Solutions.
 
Participants in the Capital Integrated Services and Governance Initiative include the Capital Regional District and 13 area municipalities, as follows: City of Victoria, City of Colwood, City of Langford, Township of Esquimalt, Town of View Royal, Town of Sidney, District of Oak Bay, District of Saanich, District of Central Saanich, District of North Saanich, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands and the District of Sooke.