Alternative Approval Process

Under BC’s Community Charter, local governments may use an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to directly engage citizens about a proposed bylaw or other matter requiring elector approval.

Corporate Services

info@castlegar.ca

An AAP can be used for various initiatives to undertake borrowing, a boundary extension, or other matters requiring approval of the electorate.

How an Alternative Approval Process Works

A staff report is provided to City Council that describes the plan for conducting the AAP. It includes key information about the proposed elector approval process to ensure elected officials fully understand the implications of using an AAP to obtain approval. The report also provides staff with an opportunity to plan the process to conduct the potential AAP.

A notice of an AAP will be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper distributed in the area defined for the process. Eligible electors have at least 30 days from the publication of the second notice to submit Elector Response Forms to the local government’s Corporate Officer before the AAP deadline. Forms received after the deadline has passed cannot be counted.

If 10 percent or more of eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local governments cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum).

Current Alternative Approval Processes

This notice is to advise electors in the City of Castlegar of the City’s intention to borrow up to $1,380,000 under Section 175 of the Community Charter from the Municipal Finance Authority to partially fund the West Kootenay Regional Airport (WK Regional Airport) Apron Rehabilitation and Taxiway Extension project. The Alternative Approval Process (AAP) allows electors to oppose certain municipal decisions by submitting an Elector Response Form. This borrowing will proceed unless, by 4:00 p.m. on November 12, 2024, at least 10 percent of the electors in the City of Castlegar sign and submit an official Elector Response Form opposing the borrowing, unless the City of Castlegar holds an Assent Vote.

Project Overview
WK Regional Airport is owned and operated by the City of Castlegar. The design and construction of the Apron Rehabilitation and Taxiway Extension project at the WKRA was approved, with funding sources designated as grants and Municipal Finance Authority debt funding. The estimated cost of the project is $5,374,000. WK Regional Airport received $4,016,000 in grants ($2,360,000 from Transport Canada’s Airport Capital Assistance Program and $1,656,000 from the BC Air Access Program). The City will fund the remaining project cost through long-term borrowing.

Loan Repayment Plan
The loan will be repaid within 30 years with no rights of renewal. Debt repayments are intended to be covered by WK Regional Airport user fees, including, but not limited to, passenger facility fees, vehicle parking fees, terminal and airside rental revenue, and landing fees.

What the Apron Expansion and Taxiway Extension Project Means for the West Kootenay Regional Airport
The WK Regional Airport Apron Rehabilitation and Taxiway Extension project is a transformative investment that will significantly enhance operational capacity by accommodating larger aircraft, increasing overall capacity, and enabling simultaneous aircraft operations. The project paves the way for greater operational efficiency and improved runway safety. These upgrades directly align with the long-term vision of the WK Airport’s Master Plan, which focuses on supporting regional growth and maximizing the airport’s potential as an economic driver. As the City expands the airport’s infrastructure, it lays the foundation for increased flight frequency, creating new opportunities for commercial aviation and tourism in the region.

The aviation landscape at the West Kootenay Regional Airport has evolved in recent years. This includes Air Canada introducing larger aircraft, which highlights a pressing need for infrastructure upgrades. The increased plane size placed a strain on the airport’s apron, where limited space restricted efficient operations and made it difficult to accommodate simultaneous flights. As a result, opportunities for new business development were impacted.

This critical investment not only addresses current operational challenges but also aligns with the airport’s broader commitment to enhancing reliability and growth, ensuring that it remains an economic engine for the region.

Elector Eligibility

Resident Elector: When signing an Elector Response Form during an AAP, a resident elector must:

be 18 years of age or older;
be a Canadian citizen;
have been a resident in British Columbia for at least six months;
live in the City of Castlegar;
and, not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in a local election, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Non-resident Property Elector: When signing an Elector Response Form during an AAP, a non-resident property elector must:

be at least 18 years of age;
be a Canadian citizen;
have been a resident in British Columbia for at least six months;
have owned property in the City of Castlegar for at least 30 days;
and, not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment from voting in a local election, or be otherwise disqualified by law.

Note: Only one non-resident property elector may sign an Elector Response Form per property, regardless of how many people own the property; and, that owner must have the written consent of a majority of the other property owner(s) to sign the response form on their behalf. Property owned in whole or in part by a corporation does not qualify under the non-resident property elector provisions.

Resident electors signing the Elector Response Form must provide their name and address.

Non-resident property electors must provide their name and the address of the property in relation to which they are entitled to register as a non-resident property elector. The local government will not share the information on the form with anyone other than the Corporate Officer, or other person(s) designated by the Corporate Officer.

For more information on elector qualifications, please contact the City of Castlegar or see the Ministry of Municipal Affairs’ Voter’s Guide to Local Government Elections in BC.

Official Elector Response Form

Elector Response Forms can be obtained during regular business hours at Castlegar City Hall and on the website at castlegar.ca. Forms must be submitted to the City of Castlegar Corporate Office in person or by mail to:

in person at City Hall
by mail to City Hall
by email to info@castlegar.ca

Attention: Corporate Officer
Castlegar City Hall
460 Columbia Avenue
Castlegar, BC
V1N 1G7

The only elector response form that will be accepted are the official forms provided by the City of Castlegar.

Elector response forms must contain an original signature.

A person cannot sign more than one Elector Response Form in relation to this Alternative Approval Process.

An elector may withdraw their Elector Response Form, in writing to the Corporate Officer prior to 4:00 pm on November 12, 2024.

The deadline to submit Elector Response Forms is November 12, 2024 at 4:00 pm.