Saanich to consider amalgamating fire department with Victoria, Esquimalt, Oak Bay
Saanich council will be discussing a report Monday prepared by Saanich Fire Chief Michael Kaye on the merits of amalgamating the fire departments of Victoria, Oak Bay, Esquimalt and Saanich.
“It could be a baby step forward,” said Saanich Coun. Colin Plant.
Plant says new national changes to health and safety requirements for firefighters mean highrise fires need to be fought by more first responders.
“Right now, none of the four fire departments are able to – on their own – meet national standards for highrise fires,” said Plant. “When we have a fire like that, we do rely on mutual aid and our fire departments do support each other but those mutual-aid agreements need to be negotiated from time to time. I would hate to see a time where we couldn't have a mutual-aid agreement signed.”
Plant says one amalgamated department would solve that problem. He also points to other benefits that could come with one integrated fire department.
“There's the benefits of training together so that all of the fire department members in the region would be able to address the same types of fires,” said Plant.
Plant also points to potential cost savings.
“We all know that when you have a bigger purchasing body, you get a better deal on your purchases than if you have four separate entities buying the same amount of materials,” said Plant.
“I think this is a reasonable question to be asking,” said Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch.
Murdoch says it isn’t a surprise to see this come forward as it was part of Saanich’s strategic plan. He says he can’t speak for Oak Bay council as it hasn’t gotten that far through the process yet but believes the idea does have merit.
“I think on basic principles we have an obligation to maximize public safety and to look at all our services as to what is the most cost-effective way to deliver those services,” said Murdoch.
If Saanich council decides to pursue the amalgamation of the four core municipal fire departments on Monday night, it will then invite the other three municipalities to the table for further discussions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.
DEVELOPING Israel says Hamas deal is 'far' from meeting its demands as Rafah offensive looms
Israel said the terms of a ceasefire deal Hamas accepted on Monday remained 'far from' meeting its demands and warned its military operations in Rafah would continue, even as it sent negotiators to talk to mediators.
2024 Met Gala: Everything to know about fashion's annual soiree
Fashion's biggest night out — hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each year on the first Monday of May — is both a forever-evolving spectacle and a carefully crafted event.