When the District of Saanich proposed borrowing $150 million earlier this year to redevelop its aging municipal works yard, it didn乌鸦传媒檛 seek approval through a referendum.
Instead, council used B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 (AAP), a mechanism that allows governments to assume public consent unless at least 10 per cent of eligible voters formally object.
By the June deadline, more than 10,000 residents had submitted objection forms 乌鸦传媒� enough to stop the borrowing plan.
Across B.C., the AAP is being used more frequently by municipalities to fast-track costly infrastructure projects. At least nine processes have been initiated so far in 2025, matching the total recorded for all of 2024. Projects range from recreation facilities and sewer upgrades to land purchases and operations centres.
Among the municipalities using the AAP this year are Saanich, Kelowna, Prince George, and the cities and districts within the Capital Regional District, Regional District of Nanaimo, Columbia Shuswap, and Okanagan-Similkameen.
Efficient or erosive?
The process is outlined in and is considered a cost-effective alternative to a referendum. Local governments must publish notices for at least 30 days and distribute elector response forms. If fewer than 10 per cent of voters object, the proposal proceeds without a formal vote.
The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs says the AAP offers several benefits, including reduced administrative costs, faster timelines, and an early gauge of public sentiment. The ministry provided background information for this story, but did not provide any official statements. The provincial government is not considering changes to the AAP process at this time.
However, critics say the system lacks transparency and risks sidelining meaningful public engagement.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a form of negative-option voting, and that乌鸦传媒檚 simply wrong 乌鸦传媒� especially for major infrastructure projects,乌鸦传媒� said John Treleaven, chair of the . 乌鸦传媒淚f you don乌鸦传媒檛 respond, your silence is counted as approval. That flips the democratic principle on its head.乌鸦传媒�
Public backlash varies
In Kelowna, the city used an AAP in 2023 to borrow $241 million for a major recreation centre replacement and two new activity hubs. Just over 4,100 objections were submitted 乌鸦传媒� far below the roughly 12,000 required to halt the plan.
Mayor Tom Dyas defended the process, saying the city held multiple open houses and met all notification requirements. Still, not everyone was satisfied.
乌鸦传媒淎 lot of people don乌鸦传媒檛 even know this is happening,乌鸦传媒� said resident Renee Del Colle, who canvassed neighbourhoods to raise awareness about the project.
In Saanich, council successfully used AAPs to approve smaller loans for park, sewer, and drainage upgrades. But when it proposed borrowing $150 million for the works yard redevelopment, opposition swelled.
乌鸦传媒淲e try to stay on top of what乌鸦传媒檚 happening in Saanich, so we were aware it would come forward as an AAP,乌鸦传媒� said Nancy Di Castri, president of the Save Our Saanich Neighbourhood Society. 乌鸦传媒淚t kind of feels like an end run around the public. Most people don乌鸦传媒檛 know it乌鸦传媒檚 happening 乌鸦传媒� and under the AAP, silence is consent.乌鸦传媒�
Her group organized about 50 volunteers to canvass door to door.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檇 ask if people were aware of the AAP 乌鸦传媒� 99 out of 100 weren乌鸦传媒檛. Once they understood what was happening, most were eager to sign.乌鸦传媒�
Di Castri said the opposition wasn乌鸦传媒檛 against updating the aging yard, but questioned the scale of the proposal.
乌鸦传媒淭he plan included soil remediation, closure of the garden waste drop-off, prepping for future infrastructure, and setting the site up for a 99-year lease with a developer. Our position was: Why are taxpayers paying for that?乌鸦传媒�
Roughly 12 per cent of eligible voters submitted objection forms 乌鸦传媒� more than enough to stop the plan.
Errors 乌鸦传媒� not opposition
The City of Nanaimo attempted to use the AAP twice to fund a new operations centre, but both efforts were withdrawn due to mistakes in public notices.
乌鸦传媒淭he alternative approval process requires precision,乌鸦传媒� said Coun. Ben Geselbracht. 乌鸦传媒淚f you make a misstep, it can undermine public trust and derail the project.乌鸦传媒�
Nanaimo eventually proceeded with a scaled-back, $90-million version of the project, funded through borrowing and repaid via property taxes. Council has since advocated for making AAPs optional for essential infrastructure.
Calls for reform
The ministry乌鸦传媒檚 municipalities provide unbiased information, disclose full project costs, and ensure the process is clearly communicated. Early engagement through public meetings and open houses is also encouraged.
Still, concerns persist.
乌鸦传媒淲hen I submitted my form in the CRD乌鸦传媒檚 recent AAP, I got no confirmation,乌鸦传媒� Treleaven said. 乌鸦传媒淔ive days later, I submitted another 乌鸦传媒� and only then received acknowledgment. That kind of uncertainty undermines confidence.乌鸦传媒�
He likened AAPs to the negative-option billing model once used by cable TV providers 乌鸦传媒� and later struck down by the Supreme Court of Canada.
乌鸦传媒淚f it乌鸦传媒檚 not acceptable for selling TV packages, it shouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be acceptable for public decision-making."
Treleaven said municipalities need to invest in communication if they choose to use the AAP.
乌鸦传媒淪ure, it乌鸦传媒檚 cheaper than a referendum 乌鸦传媒� but that乌鸦传媒檚 no excuse to cut corners. People need to understand what乌鸦传媒檚 being proposed and how they can respond.乌鸦传媒�
He and others are calling for reforms to the Local Government Act.
Tough calls ahead
With infrastructure needs growing and budgets tight, B.C. municipalities are relying more on the AAP. But increased use has brought increased scrutiny.
Some critics are advocating for several reforms, including making referenda mandatory for large-scale borrowing, reducing the threshold for objections to below 10 percent, and allowing more time for electors to respond.
乌鸦传媒淔or $150 million, asking the public through an AAP isn乌鸦传媒檛 enough,乌鸦传媒� said Di Castri. 乌鸦传媒淚t would乌鸦传媒檝e been more fair to put it to a vote.乌鸦传媒�
She also questioned the project乌鸦传媒檚 urgency.
乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檝e been talking about fixing those buildings since 1998,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淪uddenly it乌鸦传媒檚 urgent? It乌鸦传媒檚 not the public乌鸦传媒檚 fault nothing was done sooner.乌鸦传媒�
The says it has no plans to revise the 10 per cent threshold or submission rules 乌鸦传媒� for now.
Still, the conversation around public engagement and municipal accountability continues.
乌鸦传媒淧ublic engagement has been steadily diminishing over the years,乌鸦传媒� said Di Castri. 乌鸦传媒淭he AAP felt like the final straw.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒� With files from Black Press Media publications