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

Notice to Electors of an Alternative Approval Process

This notice is to advise electors in the City of Castlegar of the City’s intention to borrow up to $1,650,000, under Section 175 of the Community Charter, from the Municipal Finance Authority, for the purpose of financing the Custom Pumper Fire Apparatus Fire Equipment. A loan to be repaid within 20 years, with no rights of renewal.

A copy of the Council report, resolutions, and a summary of the proposal, are available on this page.

The City of Castlegar proposes to borrow up to $1,650,000, under Section 175 of the Community Charter, from the Municipal Finance Authority, unless, by 4:00 pm on October 2, 2023, 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.

The number of elector responses required to prevent the City of Castlegar from proceeding unless an assent vote is held is 632.

Elector Response Forms can be obtained during regular business hours at Castlegar City Hall and on this page.

Signed forms must be submitted to the City of Castlegar Corporate Officer prior to 4:00 pm October 2, 2023, in person or by mail to:

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

Forms can also be sent via email by the deadline to info@castlegar.ca.

The only Elector Response Form that will be accepted is the official Elector Response Form provided by the City of Castlegar. Elector Response Forms must contain an original signature.
Only eligible electors of the City of Castlegar are permitted to sign the Elector Response Forms. There are two types of electors – resident electors and non-resident property electors.

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 must contain an original signature and can be submitted to the Corporate Officer:

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

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 October 2, 2023.

The deadline to submit Elector Response Forms is October 2, 2023 at 4:00 pm.