Local Governance
The CRD as Local Government
The business of the CRD Board is managed by 23 directors; three electoral area directors who are elected every three years and 19 municipal directors who are mayors or councillors from the 13 municipalities. Regional Board meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 625 Fisgard Street, Victoria, and are open to the public.
The Southern Gulf Island's Electoral Area Director is the area's representative at the CRD Regional Board and on various CRD committees, including the Electoral Area Services Committee which is made up of the EA Directors from each area. This group has many functions similar to those of a municipality, such as: bylaw enforcement, animal control, building inspection and grants-in-aid. The CRD Board must ratify legal and legislative recommendations of this Committee.
Electoral Area Director Dave Howe
Dave Howe was elected in December 2011 for a 3 year term.
Electoral Area Commissions
The political structure of all regional governments is laid out in the Local Government Act. The CRD Board is the head of the regional government. Standing Commissions and Commissions are the next level of authority. Both report directly to the Board. Commissions are a means by which services in remote rural areas are administered. The CRD Electoral Area Director is a member of most commissions.
Operationally, there is a very close relationship between CRD departments and commissions.
The Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area has many local commissions, staffed mainly by volunteers, who assist in making critical, short and long term decisions which affect the health and environment of the electoral area.
Commission Listings
Details on commissions in the Southern Gulf Islands, which can be found in the following pages, include a listing of activities, CRD administrative relationship, meeting schedules and a link to minutes.
Galiano Island Parks & Recreation Commission
Mayne Island Parks & Recreation Commission
Pender Islands Parks Commission
Pender Islands Recreation Commission
Saturna Island Parks & Recreation Commission
North Galiano Island Fire Protection Committee
South Galiano Volunteer Fire Department
Pender Islands Fire Protection Society
Saturna Island Fire Protection Society
Southern Gulf Islands Emergency Management Commission
Sticks Alison Water Local Service Committee
Skana Water Service Committee
Surfside Park Estates Water Service Committee
Magic Lake Estates Water & Sewer Local Services Committee
Lyall Harbour/Boot Cove Water Local Services Committee
BC Ferries Advisory Committee
Southern Gulf Islands Harbours Commission
Southern Gulf Islands Library Committee
© Image courtesy of Mary Sanseverino
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