Nanaimo has gained electoral approval to extend municipal voting boundaries to include Snuneymuxw reserve lands.
The city conducted an Alternate Approval Process, which ended on April 13. Eligible electors had a chance to voice opposition to the change by submitting a form and all who did not were deemed in favour.
If more than 7,957 electors filed opposition forms, the city would not have been granted approval to go ahead with the change.
A staff report to city council for its April 20 meeting says 287 forms were received.
“With elector approval having been obtained through the alternative approval process, Council may now proceed with directing staff to submit the required documentation to the ministry of housing and municipal affairs to initiate the boundary extension,” the staff report says.
Currently, Snuneymuxw members living on reserve land surrounded by the City of Nanaimo vote only in Regional District of Nanaimo area elections and school board elections, but they do not vote for mayor and council. Snuneymuxw members living off reserve within the city can vote in municipal elections.
At an announcement before the AAP began, Snuneymuxw chief Mike Wyse said there are about 800 members of the nation living on reserve land that would be included in the boundary change.
