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Bylaws No. 512 & 515 – Regional Housing Service (AAP)

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NEWS RELEASE – Jan. 25, 2024

Regional Housing Service Approved (Bylaws 512 & 515)

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) has received consent through its Alternative Approval Process to establish a regional housing service with the intent to consider several housing related challenges in the region either directly or in partnership with other entities.

The housing service was adopted by the SRD Board of Directors yesterday through Bylaws No. 512 and 515 which authorize the SRD to establish a regional housing service and borrow up to $10 million for that purpose.

The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) initiated an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) on November 8, 2023 to determine elector support for Bylaws No. 512 and 515. The elector response period ran for 53 days and closed on January 2, 2024. A total of 392 qualified electors (0.11%) submitted valid response forms to oppose the adoption of the bylaws by the Regional Board without first obtaining the approval of the electors by voting.  Under the Alternative Approval Process, approval of the electors is obtained if the number of elector responses received is less than 10 percent of the total number of electors within the region (34,551 electors).

Now that Bylaws No. 512 and 515 have been approved by the Board, the Regional District will be able to start considering a number of service provision options moving forward. “The regional housing service will allow the SRD to address some of the pressing issues related to housing in this region including the lack of workforce housing, housing to meet the needs of seniors, and other housing challenges,” said SRD Board Chair, Mark Baker.

Over the next few months, the SRD will determine whether there are projects that require immediate attention and whether the SRD should be providing public funding to address potential solutions.

NEWS RELEASE – Nov. 8, 2023

At the Regional Board meeting on Wednesday, November 8th, approval was given to proceed with an alternative approval process (AAP) for Bylaws No. 512 and 515 which would establish a regional housing service and authorize borrowing of up to $10 million for that purpose. If approved, the Regional District would be able to address a variety of housing challenges in the region including seniors housing, workforce housing, and other social housing issues either directly or in partnership with third parties such as housing societies.

Key features of the proposed regional housing service include:

  • The service could be used to invest in workforce housing, seniors housing, and other forms of housing.
  • The service would apply throughout the SRD to be used only where there is a need and demonstrated public benefit.
  • The anticipated return on investment would be unique to each project and would be assessed before public funds are committed.
  • The SRD would not automatically borrow capital funds or incur debt, but the borrowing authority would provide a source of capital when and if needed.
  • The SRD could enter into agreements with housing societies and other entities to develop housing solutions that are customized to community needs and conditions.

“This is an important initiative for the region which is facing a multitude of housing challenges that cannot be easily solved by traditional private market solutions” stated SRD Chair Mark Baker. “I am hopeful that the public will agree with the approach being proposed by the Regional District and will support this important initiative,” he said.

An Alternative Approval Process (AAP) is used to gauge support and obtain legislative approval from electors and is often favoured due to its cost-effectiveness compared to traditional voting referenda. For the regional housing service to be approved, it requires that less than 10% of qualified electors throughout the Strathcona Regional District (34,560 electors) submit an objection through an elector response form.

The AAP will run for 55 days and is scheduled to close at 12:00 noon on January 2, 2024. At the conclusion of the AAP, if at least 3,456 qualified electors (10% of the electors in the SRD) have submitted written objections to the bylaws, the Regional Board will not be able to adopt the bylaws without first obtaining elector approval through a voting process.

AAP Public Notice – Nov 10, 2023

Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors for the Strathcona Regional District may proceed with final passage and adoption of Bylaw No. 512, being Regional Housing Service Establishing Bylaw 2023 and Bylaw No. 515, being Regional Housing Loan Authorization Bylaw 2023, at its meeting of Wednesday, January 10, 2024 unless at least 10% of the eligible electors within the Strathcona Regional District submit elector response forms not later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

Bylaw No. 512 would establish a service to address solutions for workforce housing, seniors housing, affordable housing and other housing challenges in the region either directly or in partnership with other entities such as housing societies. Bylaw No. 515 would authorize the Regional District to borrow up to $10,000,000 as necessary for the above purposes with the debt to be repaid over a period not exceeding 30 years.

The number of eligible electors within the boundaries of the Strathcona Regional District has been fairly determined to be 34,551 and the number of valid elector responses required to prevent the adoption of Bylaws No. 512 and 515 without first obtaining the assent of the electors by voting is 3,456. Elector response forms must be in the form approved by the Regional Board and may be obtained online at www.srd.ca/regional-housing-aap or in person at the Regional District office during regular office hours. Only persons who qualify as electors within the Strathcona Regional District are entitled to sign and submit an elector response form.

Further information regarding Bylaws No. 512 and 515 or this alternative approval process may be obtained on this webpage or by contacting the Regional District.

Elector Response Forms

Elector response forms must be in the form approved by the Regional Board which are available below or in person at the Regional District office during regular office hours. Only persons who qualify as electors within the Strathcona Regional District are entitled to sign and submit an elector response form.

Resources

Contact

For more information about the Regional Housing Service AAP, please contact Tom Yates – SRD Corporate Services Senior Manager at 250-830-6704   |   tyates@srd.ca