Why is the boundary for a new municipality different from the boundary for Area C1?

The Sorrento-Blind Bay Municipality boundary is considerably smaller than the boundary for C1 for a number of reasons, three of which are particularly important:

Roads — The provincial Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure (MOTI) is responsible for all local roads in electoral areas throughout British Columbia, including in any future Area C1.  When an unincorporated area chooses to incorporate, responsibility for roads shifts from MOTI to the new municipal government.  This transfer of responsibility gives municipalities control over decisions related to roads; however, it also imposes considerable costs onto local taxpayers.  The area for a Sorrento-Blind Bay Municipality was sized to minimize the total number of local road kilometres that municipal taxpayers would be expected to maintain and fund.  The same consideration was not a factor in setting the boundary for Area C1.

Agricultural Land Reserve — An effort was made to minimize the amount of ALR land in within the Incorporation Study Area.  Such land is protected from urban and semi-urban development that is more likely to occur in a municipality than in an electoral area.

Class 9 (Farm) — Properties classified by BC Assessment as Class 9 (Farm) enjoy a greater range of tax exemptions in unincorporated areas than within municipalities.  Accordingly, an effort was made to minimize the number of such properties in the Incorporation Study Area.

Show All Answers

1. If we incorporate, wouldn't we just be adding an extra level of bureaucracy and politicians?
2. If the report has not yet been completed and the meetings are ongoing why is the Regional District Director for Area C approaching businesses and organizations to discuss incorporation? Has the Commit
3. Will the public boat launches be improved and better maintained?
4. Can we confirm that there are "hundreds of acres of available non-[ALR] land within the incorporation boundary" for commercial development?
5. In the event of Incorporation, who specifically (by role), would be in the transition team until a new council is voted into office?
6. Received your mailout today. It is very hard to make any kind of informed decision on the subject without any associated costs and increase in the mil rate. Please send some estimated numbers.
7. I have questions about this flyer sent to us. Are there going to be more answers like how much our taxes will go up?
8. It is very expensive to bring in extra politicians and staff because of all the benefits and the pensions. I understand that politicians receive large pensions. I don't want to pay for those.
9. Are there any communities in BC that have incorporated, only to then decide to return to being unincorporated?
10. With incorporation, wouldn't all of our taxes increase to the point that we would be paying what people do in larger cities?
11. What can we say about demographics in the Incorporation Study Area?
12. This area has a very large retirement community. It would seem you have not taken this into consideration when establishing dates of mid-October for open houses and a possible referendum in late....
13. Why is the boundary for a new municipality different from the boundary for Area C1?
14. At one of the recent meetings it was stated that there would be information sheets outlining the pros and cons of both incorporation and the two-area default. Is that still being planned?
15. There seems to be confusion in the community about the status of referendum. The recent flyer says that the referendum will occur only if the committee recommends to CSRD. Could you clarify?
16. A large number of the higher valued and higher taxed properties in Sorrento (waterfront) are owned by seasonal residents. How are you going to ensure they are included in the determination vote?
17. According to an email that has circulated in Blind Bay there appears to be a meeting on August 18, 2021 at 6:30 at Dream Cycle. Can you confirm if the Committee has sanctioned this meeting?
18. Is there anything that the CSRD, members of the advisory committee or the consultants can do to address misinformation or even 'scare tactics'
19. How many Administration Support staff would be hired to support the Mayor and Council in a new Sorrento-Blind Bay Municipality?