Regional Districts are a unique form of local government in the
Province of British Columbia. They provide governance and the
delivery of services on a region-wide basis; a political and
administrative framework for participatory services and the ability
to recover costs from areas receiving those services. They are the
'local' government for residents and property owners in
unincorporated rural areas.
( Provincial Government Primer on Regional Districts)
From time to time, you may hear the words 'Letters Patent'
mentioned. Letters Patent are the basic rules, approved by the
Provincial Government (Lieutenant Governor in Council or Cabinet),
that incorporate the regional district and its electoral areas by
name and defined boundaries. The Letters Patent also outline the
voting units for the regional district, determining how many
directors are appointed from member municipalities and how many
votes the directors have when an issue discussed by the regional
board calls for a weighted vote. The Letters Patent set out the
political and administrative framework for the delivery of services
with the regional district's defined geographical
boundary.
During the mid to late 60's, Regional Districts were also given
the responsibility for regional hospital capital financing in order
to reduce inequities that were developing throughout the
province.
In the early 70's, the Province created the Municipal Finance
Authority creating through regional districts, the opportunity for
local governments to pool their assets and borrowing requests in
order to obtain reduced borrowing costs in the marketplace.
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