MEDIA COVERAGE: Future of $48.5M project uncertain after errors found in Nanaimo borrowing process: The news comes as the Capital Regional District faces criticism for its own alternative-approval process to borrow $85 million through its land assembly, housing and land banking service to create more housing, Times Colonist, Feb. 7, 2024.
Affordable housing details available after ‘vote’ closed Feb. 5
The CRD must either redo the flawed alternate approval process (AAP) vote just held or to hold a more democratic referendum at a later date, argues the civic watchdog Grumpy Taxpayer$.
Should the 10 percent threshold not be met, that would mean there’s no need for a referendum and the CRD will proceed with a $85 million loan for affordable housing.
The CRD housing and hospital committee meets today Feb. 7. A staff report on the alternate approval process (AAP) will go to the CRD board prior to their meeting Feb. 14 and the vote results made public.
“Given the difficulties in the AAP elector response – which have been brought to the attention of the BC Ombudsperson – we have little confidence that the results reflect the broad judgement of residents,” says John Treleaven, chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$.
One of the main complaints about the AAP was lack of information about the need to spend $85 million on affordable housing, says Treleaven.
Five consultant documents prepared for the hospital and housing committee have come to light just now, after the vote closed which would have much better informed the public vote (Agenda Item 6.2).
“The CRD board should apologize and consider a redo or hold a referendum on what’s an extremely important policy issue deserving widespread discussion,” says Treleaven.
“It would bolster public confidence in the CRD at a time when there are other major infrastructure investments on the horizon. The province must also step up to the plate and ensure every municipality uses the same voting process.”
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Shortcomings of the AAP process
- Inadequate Public Notice – Why didn’t the CRD bother informing residents about the AAP in the January edition of its monthly newsletter Highlights? Why did the public have trouble finding basic information on the CRD website during the first 10 days of the vote?
- Confusing Electoral Vote Form.Not explicit about mailing or dropping it by, how in heck do you create a pdf of the form and email it?
- Failure to confirm vote.We received numerous reports of residents not getting CRD confirmation that their vote was received.
- Inconsistent municipality-to-municipality. Unlike the CRD, Nanaimo electoral voters could only mail or drop by there vote to the region. No fax or emails. Now there’s questions that the second attempt at a vote is valid.
- Varying Voting Periods – AAP guidelines allow for a minimum of 30 days – to a maximum of 45 days to accommodate local circumstances – before a vote is held. If this is a quasi democratic vote with major ramifications shouldn’t there be consistency in all jurisdictions?
- Inadequate Public Consultation. In what was a very large loan request, there were no public information forums as was the case in Nanaimo.
- No home computer. Not all BC households have home computers but 95% do, according to StatsCan. The rest may not have heard of the AAP or find it easy to vote. Not everyone has a scanner.
- Vagueness around use of money.What and when will the funds be used for affordable housing? Will the CRD and taxpayer continue to build affordable housing for families with anincome of up to $128,810? At that rate most families who work for the CRHC and CRD would qualify !
READ MORE
Flawed AAP process, CFAX Interview with Chair John Treleaven, Feb. 5, 2024.
Nanaimo alternative-vote process fails to follow rules again; future of $48.5M project uncertain, Times Colonist, Feb. 6, 2024.
Capital Regional District failing fiscal management: Government debt is just deferred taxation, Times Colonist Commentary by Carson Binder, Feb. 4, 2024.
Alternative Approval Process: A Guide for Local Governments in British Columbia, Department of Municipal Affairs, July 2023.
CRD ‘vote’ opposing $85M housing loan flawed,
Times Colonist Commentary, Jan. 17, 2024.
Land Assembly, Housing and Land Banking Alternative Approval Process Overview PLUS Electoral Vote form deadline Feb. 5, 2024 noon, CRD, Jan. 2024.
CBC News, Feb. 1, 2024.
EDITORIAL: CRD’s push for massive borrowing increase demands second look, Black Press, Jan. 30, 2024.
In my experience, politicians are financially illiterate. As such, this size of loan and purpose requires close scrutiny in my view. A referendum by property owners in CRD is an absolute necessity.