An outspoken Sechelt man is intent on preventing the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) from passing a bylaw that would enable it to borrow nearly $6 million to install water meters and is enlisting volunteers to help him.
“What I plan on doing is getting the correct amount of votes to stop this $6-million loan, which is under 2,000,” George Goudie told Coast Reporter. “I’ve got to get 20 volunteers to get 100 signatures each and it shouldn’t be that hard.
An alternative approval process (AAP) is underway to fund Phase 3 of the universal water meter installation project, which will see meters installed in the District of Sechelt and on shíshálh Nation band lands. Originally, the installations were going to be paid for with a provincial grant, but after it fell through, directors voted to pay using a 20-year loan. The SCRD is not locked into the loan if alternative funding sources, such as grants, become available, and has the option of taking out a shorter term loan if the long-term loan is rejected.
Goudie originally planned to have elector response forms inserted in Coast Reporter with a message on the forms, but scrapped the idea after it was established that the forms would be rendered ineligible if they were marked. “Forms that are submitted have to be an accurate reproduction of forms approved by the board,” said Angie Legault, SCRD’s administration and legislative services senior manager. “If it had a text box overlapping the form, it wouldn’t be considered an accurate reproduction.”
He then requested that the SCRD provide 2,000 copies so that he could distribute them, encourage people to fill them out and return them on their behalf. Legault said the SCRD declined to provide the copies. “We’re not obligated to provide 2,000 forms to an individual to circulate as they see fit. The forms are available to pick up or download.”
So instead, Goudie has printed the 2,000 forms and said he plans to go door-to-door, as well as distribute them on Cowrie Street in Sechelt, and then submit the signed forms to 1975 Field Road himself. “People are just going to be apathetical, they’re not going to want to go to the post office, get an envelope and mail the thing or go to Field Road and drop it off,” he said.
This is not the first time Goudie has spoken out against large government loans. In 2015 he sued the District of Sechelt, claiming the district had abused its power by intimidating him in 2014 for opposing the district’s referendum to borrow $7.4 million for a new sewer treatment plant. Goudie had created “vote no” signs, which the district had removed the day of the vote. A judge rejected the claim, saying the seizure of the signs had been a mistake based on a misunderstanding of the law.
AAPs are used to determine whether the public objects to bylaws that authorize long-term loans – they are required when borrowing periods last longer than five years. Property owners and residents in the water service area – Egmont/Pender Harbour, Halfmoon Bay, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone, West Howe Sound and the District of Sechelt – are eligible to vote.
If more than 10 per cent of electors object to the loan, the SCRD can proceed to a referendum or cancel the borrowing bylaw, and can also pay for the installation through short-term financing for a five-year term or else through a combination of short-term financing and reserves. Those options, say staff, would come with a high debt-servicing ratio, increasing the short-term financial risk. For example, funding the project entirely through a short-term loan would result in an annual debt service of $1.2 million, versus the $400,000 expected for the 20-year loan.
According to the AAP information package, parcel tax rates will not increase to service the long-term loan, but an average of $37.70 per parcel will be spent “from the existing parcel tax to service the 20-year borrowing.”
Meters have been installed in most SCRD water service areas and are expected to reduce water usage by up to 30 per cent by identifying leaks. “The SCRD has recognized the critical importance of completing this third and final phase of water meter installations,” said the information package.
“I’m interested in people making an informed decision,” said Legault. “We have information available on the website, both on the AAP page, and on the water metering page.”
The deadline for submitting AAP response forms is July 24 at 4:30 p.m.
