South Shuswap Scoop March 2022

Incorporation Committee Recommends Referendum

By Barbra Fairclough

In the Sorrento/Blind Bay Incorporation committee meeting March 2, the committee voted 7-1 in favor of recommending a referendum be held so voters can decide on whether to incorporate.

The committee is responsible to determine whether sufficient interest exists in the community to hold a referendum as well as for ensuring that voters have the information they need to assess the options and if a vote iscalled, make an informed choice.

At the March 17 CSRD board meeting, should directors vote in support of the recommendation from the incorporation committee, the CSRD will work with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to finalize a date for assent voting, tentatively planned for this spring. All eligible voters living inside the proposed new municipal boundaries will be able to go to the polls to determine whether the area should be incorporated or not.

If the vote supports incorporation, the new municipality would be formed and a vote to elect a new municipal council would likely take place as part of the local government general election scheduled for October 15, 2022.

In the referendum if voters decide against incorporation, electoral Area C will be divided into two smaller areas. This is because the population of the area has grown significantly and each area will have its own elected director at the CSRD board table. This will create a more even distribution of elected representation across the region.

In January the Incorporation Committee Public Engagement Phase took place. Open Houses here held on January 17 and 20. At the open houses, consultants Allan Nielson and Sherri Hurst presented the two options, Incorporation or two electoral areas, particularly with respect to the incorporation option as it was the focus of the study.

Both meetings had a Q and A where residents attending could have questions answered by the consultant and concluded with Mr. Neilson summarizing why each option may appeal to some people and pros and cons were presented.

On January 29, Barriere Mayor Ward Stamer, West Kelowna Councillor Dog Finlater, Lake Country Mayor James Baker, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell and Sicamous Mayor Terry Rysz formed a panel that met in a public online discussion. This offered the perspective of leaders outside our communities who have personal knowledge and experience with incorporation.

At the March 2 meeting of the Committee, Mr. Neilson outlined work that is captured in the draft final report. Contained in this report is the work undertaken by the committee in a 25 page summary of steps and components of the study. All the information contained in the appendices have been reviewed by the committee. It also outlines the committee’s process and highlights the impact of covid 19. Also included is a statement from First Nations.

A multiyear budget is included in the report and there is an assumption of the use of funds. It is assumed the per capita transition funding would be used to transition to an anticipated increase in taxes.

The provincial offer is also highlighted in the report. Projected revenues and costs are outlined for a seven year period. It also speaks to the building of up to $15 million in reserves. Key items on property tax impacts are also included and has been communicated in various formats including the mail out to households.

Karen Lynch with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs presented information on the details of Letters Patent which is undersigned by the Lieutenant Governor.

The Letters patent comes from the province if the electors choose to incorporate. Contained within the Letters Patent is everything not captured in existing legislation. It will contain information on regional district transitional service arrangement, financial plan and management, revenue anticipated borrowing, conditions of regional district dissolution

and the transfer of regional district service jurisdiction and transitional service arrangements. As described by Ms. Lynch this is the workbook for how to manage the transition.

There is some indication that the 2021 census has revealed an increase in population within the incorporation area of over 5000 people. This is the threshold in which municipalities are responsible for providing local policing. Mr. Neilson indicated, as outlined in the draft final summary, that this would not trigger the responsibility until 2027 despite the new population estimate of 5,250.

Responsibility for policing only shifts to a municipality based on the exact population number recorded for the municipality in the official census. At the time of the 2021 census Blind Bay/Sorrento did not exist as a municipality. If residents choose in 2022 to incorporate, Sorrento and Blind Bay would exist as a municipality in the 2026 census.

That census would confirm that the municipal population exceeded 5000, which would trigger the transfer of responsibility for policing in 2027. At that point, the Municipal Council would be able to make decisions. The decision to contract with the RCMP, for example, would fall to Council, as would the decision to build or not to build a local detachment. Decisions related to Policing priorities and authorized strength would be made by the province and RCMP with some input from council.

All incorporation documents and supporting information including recorded panel discussions are available on the CSRD Incorporation home page. Mr. Neilson will answer any question you have; just submit them on the Q and A button on the webpage. Groups remain welcome to ask for a presentation by the consultant. Hard copies of all documents are available in the South Shuswap Library Branch in Upper Blind Bay. You can see the many questions that have been submitted to FAQ. CSRD Incorporation Website is https://www.csrd. bc.ca/areas/sorrento-blind-bay-incorporation-study.

Photo credit: Sarah Tokarek @Shuswap Adventure Girl