Ultimate in Cooperation?

If you click here you'll see the most recent example of amalgamation in NL. But if you've been watching the news lately you'll know that this is but one of a few possible amalgamations.

There was a time in the not so distant past when amalgamation was a very dirty word. Growing from a couple rounds of forced amalgamations was a bitter taste for forcing towns into a permanent situation, in some cases without appropriate consultations or discussions. Times have changed. The current provincial administration has promised no forced amalgamations but that isn't stopping towns from realizing that sometimes amalgamation is the best option. Many councillors who have gone through an amalgamation process fell that the end result is a more effective government with a more efficient service delivery model because sometimes amalgamation just makes sense.

Sometimes, however, amalgamation may not make sense. Because of the work of CCRC in providing assistance for cooperative efforts and promoting the benefits of cooperation some feel that we are simply promoting a hidden amalgamation agenda. The truth is that the goal for CCRC is to promote healthy sustainable communities with solid government structures and that sometimes that may mean amalgamation but the majority of times it does not. Simply on a physical level the geography of the province and the disbursement of communities would be a significant barrier to mass amalgamations.

From the CCRC perspective there are many ways to work together from joint councils to service sharing and amalgamation is but one tool in the box and like any tool it should only be used when it fits the job.

All the best to the newly amalgamated town of Roddickton-Bide Arm.