Public Works Building & Alternative Approval Process
In recent years, the City of Nanaimo proposed a multi-phase Public Works Building project with an estimated total cost of $163 million. The project was intended to replace and consolidate aging facilities over multiple stages of development.
During a City Council meeting discussing the original proposal, the City Engineer described the facility as “no frills,” indicating that it was presented as functional in design rather than elaborate in scope.
To authorize long-term financing for the project, the City initiated an Alternative Approval Process (AAP).
What Is an Alternative Approval Process?
An Alternative Approval Process is an elector approval mechanism permitted under British Columbia’s Local Government Act. It may be used for certain municipal decisions that require elector approval, including long-term borrowing and the establishment of specific services.
Unlike a traditional referendum, an AAP allows a proposal to proceed unless a required number of electors formally submit opposition within a defined time period. If sufficient opposition is registered, the proposal cannot proceed without further approval steps.
Community Engagement & Public Awareness
Members of what later became part of the REAL Nanaimo team were involved with CON Oversight Society, a registered nonprofit society focused on municipal governance oversight, transparency, and community accountability.
As part of its activities, CON conducted public outreach, including canvassing and assisting residents in understanding the AAP process and how to formally register opposition if they chose to do so.
Organizers reported that during outreach efforts, a substantial portion of residents they spoke with indicated they were unfamiliar with the AAP mechanism or unaware that the borrowing proposal was underway. These observations contributed to broader concerns about public awareness and understanding of the approval process being used for a project of this scale.
Legal Review & Procedural Compliance
Sandy Bartlett, a lawyer and current council candidate, served as acting legal counsel in reviewing the AAP process. His legal analysis examined statutory compliance requirements under provincial legislation.
Questions were raised regarding procedural compliance in subsequent AAP attempts. Over the course of three separate AAP initiatives related to the project, sufficient opposition was registered and/or procedural concerns were identified such that the proposals did not proceed under the AAP mechanism.
Revised Project Scope
Following these outcomes, the City returned with a revised version of the Public Works project at an estimated cost of $79 million.
The difference between the original multi-phase proposal and the revised version was approximately $84 million.
Based on an estimated 43,000 households in Nanaimo, this represented a significant reduction in potential long-term borrowing exposure per household. When financing costs over time are considered, total borrowing implications would extend beyond the principal amount.
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