Hi Everyone:
At the 2014 Annual General Meeting, people had the opportunity to submit questions and comments anonymously into a comment box. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability, and if you wish to have further dialogue, please click the "comment" button below and enter your information into the open field box.
Question 1: Non-resident property owners in the land improvement district should be allowed to vote. Why can't they vote?
Answer: The British Columbia government establishes the rules for voting, not the Wasa Lake Land Improvement District. These are the rules, according to the Local Government Act, and can also be found in Section B, page 19 of the Improvement District Manual.
Persons entitled to vote at an election must meet all the following requirements:
a. Canadian citizen
b. 18 years of age or older
c. An owner of land in the improvement district
d. A resident of the province for the prior 6 months, or legal representative of an owner of land in the improvement district who has died, become insolvent or insane.
One vote is also allowed for each board or corporation that owns land within the improvement district. The board or corporation must designate one person to act as an authorized agent to vote on its behalf.
We are working on an Election Policy to clear up any further grey areas, such as details around a corporation appointing an "agent" to vote on their behalf. When adopted, it will be posted in the LIBRARY.
Although it is not within our power to change the rules on who can vote, we certainly recognize that non-residents have a stake in many issues that effect all property owners, and non-residents are able to make very valuable contributions to our community. Although they cannot vote, they can attend board meetings and the AGM, and (following the proper protocol) they are welcome to speak at both. We are currently investigating a more official way that non-residents can be represented at our board meetings. Let us know if you have some ideas on how we can work together.
Cheers, Alex
At the 2014 Annual General Meeting, people had the opportunity to submit questions and comments anonymously into a comment box. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability, and if you wish to have further dialogue, please click the "comment" button below and enter your information into the open field box.
Question 1: Non-resident property owners in the land improvement district should be allowed to vote. Why can't they vote?
Answer: The British Columbia government establishes the rules for voting, not the Wasa Lake Land Improvement District. These are the rules, according to the Local Government Act, and can also be found in Section B, page 19 of the Improvement District Manual.
Persons entitled to vote at an election must meet all the following requirements:
a. Canadian citizen
b. 18 years of age or older
c. An owner of land in the improvement district
d. A resident of the province for the prior 6 months, or legal representative of an owner of land in the improvement district who has died, become insolvent or insane.
One vote is also allowed for each board or corporation that owns land within the improvement district. The board or corporation must designate one person to act as an authorized agent to vote on its behalf.
We are working on an Election Policy to clear up any further grey areas, such as details around a corporation appointing an "agent" to vote on their behalf. When adopted, it will be posted in the LIBRARY.
Although it is not within our power to change the rules on who can vote, we certainly recognize that non-residents have a stake in many issues that effect all property owners, and non-residents are able to make very valuable contributions to our community. Although they cannot vote, they can attend board meetings and the AGM, and (following the proper protocol) they are welcome to speak at both. We are currently investigating a more official way that non-residents can be represented at our board meetings. Let us know if you have some ideas on how we can work together.
Cheers, Alex