Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce Launches Initiative to Explore Municipal Amalgamation
Sunshine Coast, BC — December 1, 2025
The Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce has formally invited the Town of Gibsons, District of Sechelt, and Sunshine Coast Regional District to join a Joint Amalgamation Exploration Task Force to evaluate whether municipal amalgamation could improve governance, service delivery, and long-term financial sustainability for the region. We have also invited the shíshálh Nation and the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to participate and provide their insight.
The proposed Task Force would bring together representatives from all three local governments and the Chamber to collect data, identify duplication and inefficiencies, and prepare a Joint Amalgamation Options Report. The report would outline potential benefits, risks, costs, and impacts of amalgamation and give its recommendation.
“Residents and businesses deserve clear, factual information on whether amalgamation would be beneficial,” said Arthur Cullinan, a director of the Sunshine Coast Chamber of Commerce. “We are not advocating for or against a merger. We are advocating for transparency, collaboration, and evidence-based decision-making.”
The Chamber emphasizes that participation in the Task Force does not imply support for amalgamation, but simply reflects responsible governance and due diligence.
The Chamber recognizes that staffing concerns often arise in discussions about amalgamation. Our intention is not to pursue job cuts. Any potential efficiencies would naturally occur over time through improved coordination and natural attrition, especially given the ongoing hiring challenges across the Coast. Support from municipal staff will be essential in ensuring any exploration of amalgamation is practical, informed, and respectful of the people who keep our communities running.
The Sunshine Coast currently faces well-documented challenges, including rising infrastructure costs, staffing shortages, service duplication, and fragmented planning. The Chamber believes that now is the appropriate moment to examine whether a more unified governance approach could improve outcomes for the region.
The Chamber has asked the three local governments to appoint representatives and confirm participation in the Task Force. The first meeting will be scheduled once all municipalities have responded.
