North Coast Regional District to use Alternative Approval Process on three upcoming spending plans

North Coast Regional District is set to take some upcoming initiatives to the
Alternative Approval Process

North Coast Regional District is looking to use the sometimes controversial Alternative Approval Process to move forward on three bylaws for upcoming projects.

The procedure which puts the onus on residents of a particular area to proclaim their opposition to an initiative, requires that at least 10 percent of the eligible voters express that opposition, a process which would either trigger a referendum on the topic, or send the plans back to the drawing board.

The use of the AAP would seem to be a way of ensuring forward momentum for the projects related to recreation initiatives for three electoral districts of Regional District.

Earlier this year Regional District received funding for the three initiatives as part of a grant program. Regional District needs to have the approval in place by the end of this year,  so they can transfer money that has been allocated by the province towards the program funds in question.

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The three initiatives involved related to the establishment of Bylaws to establish services to the following areas.

Electoral Area D
Massset
Establishment of a Parks and Trail Service Bylaw

Using the provincial voters list (s. 76 of the LGA), the total number of eligible electors in the service area has been estimated at 1,245.

The Board may proceed with adopting the bylaws unless at least 10% of the electors (125) indicate that the Board must obtain the assent of the electors by way of assent voting (referendum).

In accordance with s. 86(3)(a) of the Community Charter, the proposed deadline to receive elector responses is Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.


Electoral Area A
Dodge Cove
Establishment of a Recreation Service Bylaw

Using the provincial voters list (s. 76 of the LGA), the total number of eligible electors in the service area has been estimated at 379.

The Board may proceed with adopting the bylaws unless at least 10% of the electors (38) indicate that the Board must obtain the assent of the electors by way of assent voting (referendum). 

In accordance with s. 86(3)(a) of the Community Charter, the proposed deadline to receive elector responses is Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.


Electoral Area C
Porcher Island, Hartley Bay area
Establishment of a Recreation Service Bylaw

Using the provincial voters list (s. 76 of the LGA), the total number of eligible electors in the service area has been estimated at 258.

The Board may proceed with adopting the bylaws unless at least 10% of the electors (26) indicate that the Board must obtain the assent of the electors by way of assent voting (referendum). 

In accordance with s. 86(3)(a) of the Community Charter, the proposed deadline to receive elector responses is Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.

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So far, Regional District has not provided much in the way of information about what those Bylaws will provide for and what the planned initiatives hope to deliver.

You can review the background to the Alternative Approval planning from the Agenda of last Friday's Regional District Meeting, those notes start on page 112

As part of their notes from the Agenda, the history of the Alternate Approval Process was outlined as follows:

On January 1st, 2004 the Community Charter came into force and prescribes two methods by which a local government may seek approval of the electors. These are Assent of the Electors (which is approval by voting) or Alternative Approval Process which allows a Board to proceed with an action unless at least 10% of the eligible electors state their opposition within a prescribed period. 

In this case, the Board has opted for the latter process. If at least 10% of the eligible electors state their opposition to the proposed action, the matter requires the Assent of the Electors if the Board wishes to proceed. 

The Alternative Approval Process under the Community Charter replaces the Counter Petition Opportunity under the Local Government Act that some may have been familiar with. 

More information may be obtained by contacting Daniel Fish, Chief Administrative Officer at the North Coast Regional District office at 14-342 3rd Avenue West, Prince Rupert, BC or by telephone at 250-624-2002, ext. 8.

Regional District last used the AAP process in February, as the looked to move forward with their borrowing plans for upgrades to the Regional Recycling Centre in Prince Rupert.

For more items of note related to Regional District see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review