More recently, the City of Cambridge has tabled a report suggesting that two single tier municipalities be created. The report did not purport to include North Dumfries in the southern city but suggested that it would be preferable. Commissioned by the previous Council, the current Council has released the report and appointed a Task Force. This recent initiative has only served to compound the instability already being experienced. Staff morale continues to be impacted by the uncertainly.
Municipalities continue to experience staffing and hiring problems.
We face many issues which will require a regional solution and the acrimony and divisiveness which exist will only stand in the way of finding cost effective and realistic solutions to these issues. As we enter into the Regional budget for 2001, questions are being raised about new capital projects in the context of a secession debate. It also threatens to send us into more costly and time consuming staff and consulting exercises as secession issues are costed and debated. To resolve this, I believe it is time to ask the Province to provide assistance in bringing the reform issue to a conclusion. Although one might have asked the Province for an Advisor as was done in other areas, it is not clear what the Government action would be outside of the 905 Regions.