Victoria, BC– On July 13, 2022, the Capital Regional District (CRD) Board decided to advance the creation an elected body with a scope of authority over specified island-wide services for Salt Spring Island, known as a local community commission (LCC).
An LCC is a type of regional district commission with delegated authority over specified local services, comprised of elected, rather than appointed, membership. The purpose of this LCC proposal is to broaden CRD elected oversight and administration of certain delegated local services, to ensure decision-making regarding these services is transparent and reflective of the interests of the local community.
The Capital Regional District will include a referendum question on the ballot of General Election in October 2022, to ask if Salt Spring Island voters support the creation of the Salt Spring Island LCC.
“This form of commission would broaden community input by allowing Salt Spring Island electors to elect individuals to oversee certain local services giving the electoral area delegated authority over its services rather than having local decisions made by the 24 Directors at the Regional Board,” said Gary Holman, Director of the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area. “I encourage all Salt Spring Island residents to become informed on this proposal and to vote in the upcoming referendum.”
The scope of the proposed LCC includes island-wide services currently overseen by existing commissions, such as parks and recreation, transportation, economic development, and liquid waste disposal. The scope also includes services currently overseen by staff and the EA Director, including street lighting, determination of compensation of livestock injury by dogs, and the approval of grant-in-aid applications. The LCC would also have an advisory role to review and recommend budgets for SSI contribution services that receive CRD funding, including the arts contribution service, the public library service, and the search and rescue service.
The LCC would be comprised of 5 members, one of which is the Electoral Area Director for SSI, and four other commissioners that would be elected by residents on Salt Spring Island.
If approved, the first election would take place in late spring of 2023. In subsequent years, LCC members would be elected at the time of the General Local Election.
For more information on the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission please review the staff report.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492