Alternative Approval Process for Bylaw 4575, Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship Coordination Service
Overview
At the December 13, 2023 Board meeting of the Capital Regional District ("CRD"), the following bylaw received three readings:
- Bylaw No. 4575, "Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship Coordination Establishing Bylaw No. 1, 2023,” to authorize the establishment of a new regional service for the purpose of coordinating a regional approach to biodiversity, protection of ecological assets and environmental stewardship.
Bylaw Synopsis
The purpose of Bylaw No. 4575 is to establish a new regional service for the purpose of coordinating a regional approach to biodiversity, protection of ecological assets and environmental stewardship. The service will include conducting research, obtaining data, managing problem species, establishing partnerships with government and non-government organizations including First Nations, and facilitating an environmental stewardship strategy along with public outreach and education.
The maximum amount that can be requisitioned annually for the service is five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or an amount equal to the amount that could be raised by a property value tax rate of $0.0028 per one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to the net taxable value of the land and improvements within the service area.
The proposed service area applies to all municipalities and electoral areas of the Capital Regional District, including Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria, View Royal, and the Electoral Areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring lsland, and Southern Gulf lslands. Participating area consent will be obtained by conducting a region wide alternative approval process.
Please note that this synopsis of Bylaw No. 4575 is not intended to be or understood as an interpretation of the bylaw. A copy of the complete bylaw and this notice may be viewed at Capital Regional District office located at 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays).
Alternative Approval Process
The CRD may proceed with Bylaw No. 4575 unless at least 33,194 electors (constituting 10% of eligible electors) within the Capital Regional District indicate, by signing the elector response form, that the Board must obtain the assent of the electors by way of an assent vote (referendum) before proceeding to adopt Bylaw No. 4575.
The Alternative Approval Process applies to all municipalities and electoral areas of the CRD, including Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria, View Royal, and the Electoral Areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring lsland, and Southern Gulf lslands.
Elector response forms may be obtained online or at CRD Headquarters, 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays) until 4:30 pm on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
Deadline for Submitting an Electoral Response Form
The deadline for submitting signed elector response forms, in relation to Bylaw No. 4575, to the CRD is 4:30 pm on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Forms must be received by the deadline to be counted.
Completed forms may be submitted by hand (during regular business hours) or by mail to 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC, V8W 1R7, or emailed to legserv@crd.bc.ca.
The current Canada Post service disruption is impacting the delivery of mail to the CRD. Any forms that are not received at the CRD office by the deadline date due to the Canada Post service disruption will not be counted. Alternatives to mailing the form include dropping it off at 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, BC, or scanning a legible, signed copy that can be emailed to legserv@crd.bc.ca.
Results
Results will be certified by the Corporate Officer and presented at the February 12, 2025 CRD Board meeting, where the bylaw will be adopted if applicable.
Elector Qualifications
Resident Elector: You are entitled to submit an elector response form as a Resident Elector if you are 18 years or older on the date of submission of the elector response form, are a Canadian citizen, have resided in British Columbia for at least 6 months and currently reside in the Capital Regional District prior to signing the elector response form.
Non-Resident Property Elector: You may submit an elector response form as a Non-Resident Property Elector if you are 18 years or older on the date of submission of the elector response form, are a Canadian citizen, have resided in British Columbia for 6 months, have owned and held registered title to property in the Capital Regional District for 30 days and do NOT qualify as a Resident Elector. If there is more than one registered owner of the property (either as joint tenants or tenants in common) only one individual may, with the written consent of the majority, submit an elector response form.