The regional system was originally established to address some very serious problems. Without a regional district there would be no zoning or land use control in the rural areas surrounding the municipalities. It was recognized that controlling development within the town boundaries did little good if chaos reigned in the surrounding area. Without regional districts there would be no way of having rural residents share in the costs of recreation, landfills and other joint concerns with their neighbouring municipalities. Without regional districts, inter-regional projects such as the Sterile Insect Release program would be impossible.
Regional districts provide a forum for regional coordination and political action.
For these reasons, they have served us very well. It may not be the most perfect form of government, and undoubtedly could be improved, but has served the Oliver area very well, allowing a range of services to both town and rural residences that would be impossible without a regional district structure. Let's keep in mind that there is a baby in that bath water, Tom. Complicated issues are seldom served by simple solutions.