GVW Sets Illegal Precedent for SAC Committee

Yup...it's discriminatory.
And therefore illegal.

Governments have changed their eligibility requirements to allow renters to vote in elections.  Even non-resident property owners are eligible.

First, let's see what Greater Vernon Water rules are for applicants to the Stakeholder Advisory Committee that will review the Master Water Plan since the $70 million borrowing referendum failed last November.

On this application form, GVW states that the applicant "must (their emphasis) be a GVW customer..." and "Civic address of the property you are representing".  The GVW website states:  "Applicants must be a GVW customer and own property within the GVW service area."

Elections Canada's rules for federal elections include renters.  And here is the provincial government's rules on eligibility within the province of British Columbia.  The Elections B.C. document is clear that (in summary):  you are 18 years of age, are a Canadian citizen, and have been a resident of BC for at least six months and have lived in the voting jurisdiction for at least 30 days.  Even non residents of the jurisdiction can vote in a federal election if they own property in the voting area.
Because the rules seek an inclusive result.

Governments have, for years, accepted that renters contribute fees to the landlord which presumably (for all but the most inept landlords) cover all (and then some) of the landlord's expenses and overhead for the property.  Those costs are factored in.

That alone makes a renter a stakeholder.


Yes, the SAC committee applications are not an election; that's understood.
But discrimination is not allowed under law, and discriminatory policies can be created by splitting hairs.

By eliminating renters, GVW is stating that renters do not have a stake in water rates.
Nothing could be further from the truth, as landlords seek to recover the cost of overhead. 

Splitting hairs...or GVW writing spurious rules, to be exact.

Consider that Greater Vernon Advisory Committee director Mike Macnabb, an elected official, makes decisions on behalf of GVW customers (property owners and renters), yet he is not a Greater Vernon Water customer.

Huh?  Macnabb isn't a GVW customer?
Nope.

His residence is served by a well, he's not on the GVW system.
Perhaps other members of GVAC are also served by wells?  Not only does director Macnabb (an elected official) help set policy on water rates and conditions to which water users are subject, he is Greater Vernon Water's sole representative (appointed) on the bureaucrat-formed "water committee". 

So by GVW's own rules, Macnabb is ineligible to be a member of the SAC committee, which should also have made him ineligible for the bureaucrat-formed "water committee".
Unless the rules are changed to a non-discriminatory standard.
For everyone.
For inclusivity.

And changed very quickly, as the deadline for SAC applications is August 24th, 2015.

Picking and choosing the rules, skewing eligibility.
That's like saying renters aren't affected by climate change...


What's next?  Reverse accounting?
...where desired revenue is worked backwards to set fees and arrive at the revenue desired.

Yup...that's Greater Vernon Water.