EDITORIAL – AAP is now the go-to method for big-money projects

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

THE ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS continues to gain vitality in and around Kamloops.

City council is in the middle of an APP for two projects. One is a $16,750,000 loan authorization for the purchase of a 9.77-adcre property adjacent to the City’s civic operations yard to provide for expansion.

The other is a $9 million loan for phase three of the Tranquille Road sewer main project. The deadline for returning elector response forms opposing the projects is 4 p.m., May 29.

In addition, of course, there’s the plan for a new RCMP building, the AAP for which is on hold.

Now, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District is going to use an AAP for a $6.3 million loan toward the proposed Regional Search and Rescue Hall and Training Facility in Rayleigh.

The problem with APPs is that they are a negative billing method of gaining approval. If an elector doesn’t return the form, that person is assumed to be in favour of borrowing the money for the proposed projects. It’s a lot like being charged for an online product or service unless you expressly state your opposition to it.

In the case of the two current Kamloops AAPs, at least 8,527 ‘No’ forms (10 per cent of eligible electors) must be returned in order to stop or stall the loan authorization proposals. If that should happen, the City still has the option of putting them to a referendum.

The TNRD project will go to electors in all electoral areas and municipalities in the regional district. Again, a 10 per cent threshold must be achieved to defeat it.

All of the above projects are worthy. Whether they’re essential or not is a matter of opinion but an argument can be made that they are, at least, important. Nevertheless, the increasing use of the APP method of authorization for major civic loans is concerning.

Rather than being reserved for rare use for projects that are absolutely essential, the APP has become the preferred route rather than requiring a majority consent of voters via referenda. The APP has become nothing more than a convenient way of getting projects done, and that’s not what it’s supposed to be for.

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, writes for the Kamloops Chronicle and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and was a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.