I am writing to clarify the facts regarding the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) voting structure as it relates to land use in the Juan de Fuca electoral area.
The CRD does not require provincial approval to change the existing land use voting structure. As it stands, five electoral area directors on the Land Use Committee make decisions regarding the use of land in the Juan de Fuca electoral area.
In April 2011, the Chair of the CRD Board wrote to me requesting that the province enable a region-wide vote on rural resource land use and planning within the electoral area. My response on April 21, 2011 indicated that the CRD Board can:
1. Propose to use region-wide voting for all lands within the Juan de Fuca electoral area;
2. Enter into an agreement under the existing legislation to allow a different configuration of municipalities than currently exists to participate in the land use and planning service for all lands in the electoral area; or
3. Continue under the current customized, geographically-based voting structure for all lands in the electoral area.
The CRD can use any of these approaches now. These are no requirements for provincial approval and no reason for further delays. I have also advised the CRD that my staff are available to talk to them about the specifics of any of these arrangements.
Honourable Ida Chong, FCGA
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development