A report is provided to the Board of Directors that describes the proposal seeking the Board of Directors’ approval for the AAP. Following approval and all other legislative requirements being met, staff bring back an additional report outlining the following:

• Advertising dates
• Deadline for receipt of responses
• Estimated number of electors
• Elector Response Form

After the Board of Directors’ approval, Elector Response Forms are made available at the Regional District office and online. Signed forms received after the deadline cannot be counted. If, by the deadline, 10 per cent or more of the total number of estimated eligible electors sign and submit response forms, local governments cannot proceed with the proposed matter without first holding an assent vote (i.e. referendum).

Resident Electors and Non-Resident Property Electors are eligible to participate in an AAP.

A Resident Property Elector is an individual who is qualified to vote in a jurisdiction by living (residing) in the service area or boundary.

When signing an elector response form during an AAP, a resident elector must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a Canadian citizen
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months
• Be a resident of the jurisdiction (e.g., municipality or electoral area) where the AAP is being conducted
• Live in the area defined for the AAP
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, from voting in a local election or be otherwise disqualified by law. [Community Charter, section 86(2)(e)(iii) and section 86(5); Local Government Act, section 65]

A Non-Resident Property Elector is an individual who does not live (does not reside) in the service area or boundary but is entitled to vote by owning real property in the service area or boundary.

When signing an elector response form during an AAP, a non-resident property elector must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a Canadian citizen
• Have been a resident of British Columbia for at least six months
• Have owned property in the jurisdiction (e.g., municipality or electoral area) for at least 30 days
• Own property in the area defined for the AAP
• Not be disqualified under the Local Government Act, or any other enactment, from voting in a local election or be otherwise disqualified by law. [Community Charter, section 86(2)(e)(iii) and section 86(5); Local Government Act, section 66]

Only one owner can sign the elector response form when a property is owned by more than one registered owner. That owner must have the written consent of a majority of the other property owners to sign the response form.

Where a property is owned in whole or in part by a corporation, no one is eligible to sign an elector response form in relation to that property. [Local Government Act, section 66]

If you are in favour of the adoption of the bylaw, no action is required.

If you are opposed to the adoption of the bylaw, complete and submit the Elector Response Form and return it to the Corporate Officer within the 30-day period.

AAP Elector Response Forms are available during an active AAP at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, 101 Martin Street, Penticton, BC, during regular business hours 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays or online (see above) or click here to access the Elector Response Form.

Yes. But only if each person meets the requirements to participate in an AAP (see details above).

Completed forms must be received by the Corporate Officer on or before the deadline, and can be submitted by mail or hand delivery to:

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen
101 Martin Street, Penticton, BC
V2A 5J9

The AAP must be advertised in accordance with Section 94.2 of the Community Charter. Notices will be placed on the public notice board at the Regional District office, advertised in the local community newspaper(s) and posted on the RDOS Regional Connections page.

Depending on the subject matter of the AAP, there may be additional newspaper ads, public open houses, press releases, and other public communications.

Once the completed AAP Elector Response Forms are delivered to the Regional District and received by the Corporate Officer, they are date-stamped and held in a locked vault while the process is ongoing. The number of responses received is not made public during the process.

Once the deadline has passed, the responses are validated, and the Corporate Officer forwards a "Certificate of Sufficiency" report to the Board of Directors, in which the total number of valid responses received is given. If the total is at least 10 per cent of the estimated number of electors, the Board of Directors is not permitted to proceed with the matter unless it is approved by the electorate through a referendum.