Capital Regional District’s borrowing consultation a farce

VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling foul on the Capital Regional District over plans to borrow $85 million without informed consent from taxpayers. 

“The CRD’s borrowing process makes a mockery of public consultation,” said Carson Binda, the CTF’s B.C. Director. “Taxpayers deserve informed consent on this debt binge, but the CRD is making taxpayers jump through impossible hoops.” 

Under its “alternative approval process,” the CRD is borrowing $85 million, unless it receives signed electoral response forms from 10 per cent of the electors in the district of 331,905 people. That means at least 33,191 electors must submit the form by Feb. 5 to stop the borrowing. 

The electoral response form was made available on Jan. 3.

“Giving folks just one month to find, complete and return the electoral response form is unacceptable,” Binda said. “The entire process is backwards. If these politicians want to borrow a bunch of money, they should have to get informed consent from taxpayers. Instead, taxpayers are required to fill out a bunch of paperwork to stop their government from racking up a bunch of debt.”

To access the electoral response form, taxpayers must print a copy online or pick up a form at the CRD office in Victoria. If the form is accessed online, taxpayers have to print it out, fill it out by hand, get it scanned and then emailed or deliver it back to the CRD office. The entire process places a high burden on concerned residents to voice their concerns. The CRD should instead be required to obtain informed consent from its constituents.  

“Borrowing means higher taxes in the future and taxpayers deserve proper consultation and informed consent, but this is a farce,” Binda said. “The CRD needs to take these plans back to the drawing board and give residents an actual chance to give feedback.” 

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