After receiving a go-ahead from Minister Bill Bennett for the incorporation vote on Dec. 4, Sun Peaks residents and business owners eagerly await a historic moment that could see the rapidly growing ski community become a mountain resort municipality.
The referendum vote is scheduled for January 30, 2010 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort. There will be three advanced polls: Jan. 20 and 23 at the Delta from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Jan. 27 at the TNRD office in Kamloops from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Three meetings are likewise slated to educate the public prior to the referendum vote, with one meeting to be held in Burnaby for property owners who reside in the Lower Mainland. The public meeting schedule is as follows: Jan. 9 (Saturday), 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Delta Sun Peaks, Jan. 12 (Tuesday), 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express in Metrotown, and Jan. 22 (Friday), 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Delta Sun Peaks.
For the upcoming referendum vote, the basic requirements to vote are: the individual must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen and have lived in B.C. for the past six months. Individuals may be qualified to vote either as a resident or a non-resident voter. Each voter is allotted one vote only.
Mail-in ballots will also be allowed. Anyone who would like to receive mail-in ballots must apply to receive the package from the TNRD between Jan. 4 to 28. The ballots must then be filled out and mailed or dropped off at the TNRD office before 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.
As the Minister has advised, the proposed municipal boundary would include the Commercial Recreation Area (CRA) of the resort. Resident voters must have lived in the proposed municipal boundary for at least 30 days prior to election to qualify. This means that renters who successfully meet all of these criteria may also vote.
Non-resident voters must have been a registered owner of real estate property within the proposed municipal boundary 30 days prior to Election Day to be eligible. If you co-own a property, a majority of your co-owners must first approve your intent to vote and sign a written consent. Properties with multiple owners can only have one voting representative. Anyone whose name doesn’t appear in the land title is not eligible to vote. In addition, businesses, organizations and corporations aren’t allowed to vote.
For mail-in ballot information or voter eligibility, contact the TNRD’s Chief Election Officer Lyle Huntley at 250-377-8673.
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