About the CVRD
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is one of 27 regional districts in British Columbia. It is comprised of nine electoral areas and four municipalities in the southern part of Vancouver Island. With a population of over 80,000 residents it covers a land area of 3,473.12 km².
A common question residents have is what services do the various levels of government provide. The Federal Government oversees areas of law and standards that generally affect the whole country – transportation safety, food safety, national defense, and banking. The Provincial Government oversees areas common to the province – health care, hunting and fishing, provincial court and energy production. The local level is governed by Regional and Municipal Governments.
Regional Governments provide services to both electoral areas and municipalities in the region. This includes solid waste management, emergency planning, economic development and regional parks. Services are also provided exclusively at an electoral level – land use planning, bylaw enforcement, fire protection as well as water and waste water systems.
To learn more about our services and service relationships between regional governments and other government partners review What is a Regional District
How the CVRD operates
Governance
The CVRD is governed by a 16 member board comprised of appointed directors from four municipalities, the Town of Lake Cowichan, the Town of Ladysmith, the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan (North Cowichan has four appointees based upon population) and an elected director from each of the nine electoral areas. The CVRD Board elects a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson annually. The Chairperson is responsible for establishing the committee structure of the Board.
Services
The regional district provides a broad range of services to its residents. While a small number of these services are mandated by the Province (solid waste, emergency planning, land use planning), the majority of services provided by the CVRD are determined by the Board. However, services can only be provided with the approval of the electors who will receive them.
The services provided can be regional, sub-regional or local. They include the following examples:
1. Regional
Solid waste management, 9-1-1, emergency planning, administration, economic development, environmental services, regional parks, capital financing for hospitals;
2. Sub-regional
Land use planning, bylaw enforcement, building inspection, recreation centres, parks, transit; and
3. Local
fire protection, water and wastewater systems, community parks, community centres, and street lights.
Funding
Funds required to operate the various regional district services are generated through property taxes, fees and charges. Unlike municipalities, regional districts are required to match the costs and benefits of its services to the residents that benefit from them; this means residents pay for the services they receive.
