Shuswap Watershed Council Referendum 2023

*August 23, 2023 - This assent vote/referendum has been postponed by Ministerial Order M248. All previously cast ballots will be securely stored and remain in their sealed ballot boxes or secrecy envelopes (mail ballots) until the end of the future General Voting Day, date to be determined. *

There is a single assent vote (referendum) being conducted in regards to the proposed continuation of funding for the activities of the Shuswap Watershed Council. Only electors of Electoral Areas C, D, E, F, and G and the District of Sicamous can vote in this referendum because they are the only areas where taxpayers will be contributing to the service.

Assent Vote Question

The question for the upcoming voter assent process is:

Are you in favour of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District adopting the Shuswap Watershed Council Service Establishment Bylaw No. 5864, 2023 to establish with Electoral C, D, E, F, G and the District of Sicamous, a service for the purpose of obtaining, coordinating and analyzing water quality monitoring data; protecting and improving water quality; and, promoting recreational water safety within the area and to authorize a maximum annual taxation of $180,000 or $0.0167/$1,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements, whichever is greater?

View a copy of Shuswap Watershed Council Service Establishment Bylaw No. 5864, 2023 (PDF)

About the Shuswap Watershed Council

The Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) is a collaborative, non-regulatory group that focuses on strategic initiatives to protect, maintain and enhance water quality and to promote safe recreation in the Shuswap. The SWC works alongside organizations that have regulatory roles in managing the Shuswap watershed.

More detailed project information about the Shuswap Watershed Council can be found on their website, www.shuswapwater.ca

The role of the CSRD 

The CSRD’s role is to remain neutral and provide voters with information to make an educated decision on the referendum question. It is also our role to administer the referendum in accordance with the Local Government Act legislation. The decision on whether to fund the SWC is up to the voters.  

Costs to the taxpayer

The Board has not yet determined if the collection of taxes will be by way of parcel taxes or ad valorem taxes (property value of land and improvements).  

• If a parcel tax bylaw is adopted for the collection of taxes, the amount per property is estimated to be $9.55 per year.  
• If the taxes are collected by property value (ad valorem), the estimated amount per residential property would be $1.76 per $100,000 of assessed value, or approximately $9.74 per average residential property valued at $553,427. 

Voting information

Voters in the referendum can cast ballots by:

• Mail 
• Advance Voting - Wednesday, August 16, 2023 and Monday, August 21, 2023.
• General Voting Day - Saturday, August 26, 2023 Postponed by Ministerial Order. New General Voting Day to be determined.

All polling stations are open from 8 AM to 8 PM on voting days. Eligible voters may cast their ballot at any polling station in the region. You do not have to vote at the station closest to your home. Two pieces of valid identification are required to vote.

This assent voting/referendum has been postponed. Ballots cast by mail ballot or at the two advance voting opportunities will be counted at the end of the future General Voting Day. This future date has not been determined yet.

Where can I find out more?

• For information about the voting process and what the referendum will mean for local taxpayers, you can check out our more detailed FAQ page.
• For information about the Shuswap Watershed Council, go to their website, www.shuswapwater.ca

Mail Ballots

Mail ballot voting is available for resident electors and non-resident property electors in the CSRD. Voters need to sign up to receive a mail ballot using the online mail ballot request form. Mail Ballot Request Forms must be received by the CSRD before 12 PM (noon) on Thursday, August 17, 2023. Mail ballot request period is now closed. 

To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Election Officer at the CSRD Office no later than 8 PM (local time) on Saturday, August 26, 2023.

Please note: once you request a mail ballot, you will not be issued another ballot.

Non-resident Property Electors

When a person lives in one jurisdiction and owns property in one or more other jurisdictions, they may vote once as long as they meet the voter eligibility requirements. If a person owns a property with one or more other individuals, only one person is eligible to vote as the non-resident property elector for that property. The owner entitled to vote must be designated, in writing, by the majority of the property owners. A non-resident property elector consent form is required to be filled out and signed by a majority of the registered owners.

Scrutineer Application

Scrutineers for and against each question must be appointed if applications are received from persons who wish to volunteer for the positions. Only persons entitled to vote as electors on the question shown above are entitled to act as scrutineers. One scrutineer for and one scrutineer against the question will be appointed for each voting place, if sufficient applications are received.

Applications to act as a scrutineer will be accepted by the Chief Election Officer during the period from 9 AM, Tuesday, August 1, 2023 to 4 PM, Friday, August 11, 2023. The application period is now closed. 

Employment opportunities

Thank you to those who applied to assist in this assent vote! All polling station employment opportunities have been filled.