City Responds After Pushback Over Planned Method to Borrow Money to Fund Water and Sewer Infrastructure Replacement

City officials have responded after their plans to borrow funds to replace Prince Rupert’s water infrastructure were met with some backlash.

In May, City Council gave three readings to a pair of loan authorization bylaws, allowing them to borrow up to $45 million combined.

Those funds would go towards an estimated $200 million plan to replace 26 kilometres of water and sewer mains with the highest risk of failure.

But, rather than going to referendum to acquire elector assent for the loans, the City has chosen to utilize an Alternative Approval Process.

Under that process, the borrowing will be approved unless at least 10 percent of voters send in an opposition form, which would force a referendum.

Ex-City Councillor Anna Ashly took to social media to call it a sneaky and underhanded method, being used when many are away for the summer.

But, the City says a referendum would cost an additional $40,000 and would delay the critical replacement project even further.

They also say that a City contribution is necessary to access a $65 million provincial grant for the project, as well as any Federal funding they may acquire.

Residents have until August 14th to send in their opposition forms, with more info on the $40 million loan at this link, and on the $5 million one here.

A video created by the City further explaining the issues and why the loans are required is available at this link.