Cortes Voters!

Just days after the Federal Election there are two Strathcona Regional District votes, one for the proposed First Respoder service and the other for the proposed Community Hall service. I offer here a brief synopsis of the two proposals as well as voter info, links to more resources and all the voter forms attached to this article.

On Saturday October 26, Cortes Island electors will be voting on two proposed new Strathcona Regional District services:

First Responder Service (Bylaw 328) at the request of the Cortes Fire Department.
This service would allow Cortes fire fighters to provide rapid response first aid during medical emergencies until ambulance paramedics arrive. If passed, the SRD could tax property up to $45,000 ($0.14 per $1,000 of property assessment) annually, for the purpose of training, equipping and deploying first responder personnel. For a property valued at $200,000 this would amount to $26 per year and for a property valued at $500,000 this would amount to $67. (See service establishment bylaw attached.)

Community Hall Service (Bylaw 341) at the request of the Manson’s Hall Board.
This service would provide core operating funds to the Whaletown Community Club and the Southern Cortes Community Association to assist with paying the bills for things such as insurance, utilities, and property taxes as well as supplies and contract services related to operating and maintaining the Community Halls. Employee salaries would not be covered. If passed, the SRD could tax property up to $80,000 (or $0.24 per $1,000 of property assessment) annually for the purpose of providing this core financial assistance to our community halls. For a property valued at $200,000 this would amount to $47 per year and for a property valued at $500,000 this would amount to $119. (See service establishment bylaw attached.)

On Saturday, October 26th you can vote at the Gorge Hall, Manson’s Hall or at the Regional District office in Campbell River, all from 8 am to 8 pm.

Who can vote? You do NOT need to be a property owner. You must be a Canadian citizen, have been a resident in B.C. for the past 6 months, be 18 or older, and have been a Cortes resident for the past 30 days.

You must register to vote. There will be no voter card or voter list. When you vote, either bring a completed form (see attached) or fill one out at the polling station with your name, address, and birth date or Social Insurance Number. You will need 2 pieces of ID, (including one with a signature) that together verify your identity and residency. Picture ID is not necessary. If your ID does not show Cortes residency, you can declare as such at the voting station and still vote.

Acceptable ID include:

BC Driver’s Licence
BC ID Card
BC Services Card
BC CareCard or Gold CareCard
Social Insurance Card
Utility bill
Citizenship Certificate
Real property tax notice
Bank/Credit card or statement
ICBC Owner’s Certificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence
Ministry of Social Development and Economic Security Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8


Advance Voting in person Oct 16 & 23 at the SRD, 990 Cedar St, CR. (You will still need to fill out the voter application form, which will also be available at the poll, and your ID.)

Mail Ballot Voting - must submit a mail ballot application (see attached) by Friday the 18th. You will then receive a mail ballot which must be returned to the SRD by Oct. 26th.

Non-Resident Property Owners otherwise qualified to vote can vote. Provide proof of identity and property ownership with a Non-Resident Property Elector Registration Form. (See attached)

The full information can be found at
https://srd.ca/about/srd-electoral-areas/electoral-area-b/2019-assent-voting/

Below are links to the voters guide, the two proposed service bylaws, and all voter forms, all of which are also attached to this article. I will also try to keep the post offices stocked with printed forms.

Voters Guide
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show12126a0x50y1z/Voters_Guide

SRD Notice of Voting for Community Halls Service https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show12121a0x50y1z/Assent_Voting-Cortes_Island_Community_Halls_Service

SRD Notice of Voting for First Responder Service
https://www.cortesisland.com/tideline/show12120a0x50y1z/Assent_Voting-Cortes_Island_First_Responder_Service

Bylaw 328 - First Responder Service Establishment Bylaw
https://srd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Bylaw-No.-328-Cortes-Island-First-Responder-Service-3rd-reading.pdf

Bylaw 341 - Community Hall Service Establishment Bylaw
https://srd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Bylaw-No.-341-Cortes-Island-Community-Hall-Service-Establishing-AMENDED-Third-Reading.pdf

Resident Elector Application for Registration Form
https://srd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2-6-Resident-Elector-App-Instructions-1.pdf

Mail Ballot Application Form
https://srd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Resident-Mail-Ballot-Application.pdf

Non-Resident Property Elector Registration Form
https://srd.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2-7-and-2-8-Non-Res-Prop-Elector-App-Ins.pdf

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Warmly, Noba Anderson
Regional Director, Cortes Island
250-935-0320
nandersonsrd.ca