SWC Referendum Postponed to February 2024
Some of you have probably voted on this funding decision but the wildfires made it impossible for all polling stations to be open for the duration of the referendum. The CSRD Board asked the Province to allow tax dollars to be collected this year so a future referendum date can be set. The Province agreed so now Shuswap Watershed Council has funding until December 2024. The original funding agreement was for 5 years beginning in 2015 so the decision for permanent should have been made in 2020. Of course, Covid restrictions limiting public meetings meant the CSRD applied to the Province for an extension. That extension was granted so tax dollars were collected for another 3 years to 2023. Now another extension.
The CSRD News Release on August 31, 2023 said “All previously cast ballots will be securely stored and remain in their sealed ballot boxes or secrecy envelopes (mail ballots) until the end of the future General Voting Day, date to be determined.” At a community meeting in the North Shuswap on September 15, 2023 Director Jay Simpson shared that the Referendum date “will likely be February 3, 2024 with mail in ballots available from January 3, 2024.” We encourage all SWOA members to participate in this decision. You can review previous posts on our site by clicking here for June and clicking here for July.