For the second time in 15 years, Salt Spring Island residents have voted "No" to incorporation and the establishment of a town council to oversee municipal affairs on the island.
Preliminary results show 3, 916 voters said no while 2,402 were for incorporation or 62 per cent of voters preferred to maintain the current form of governance. The count will have to be verified this week.
Voters rejected a similar referendum in 2002.
Turnout was impressive with 6,318 of the Islands 10,500 residents taking part in the vote. "It was an astounding turnout." Wayne McIntyre CRD Director for Salt Spring, says he's not sure what happens next. "The ballot box tells the story it was a strong vote towards the no, we'll have to evaluate where that might go and how that might impact our priorities going forward."
At present, Salt Spring is represented by a single director elected to the 24-member Capital Regional District board, and by two people elected to the Islands Trust.
"We're a strong opinion surrounded by water, some would say a strong argument surrounded by water. There are certainly some strong opinions here a lot of very well-educated people here. There are a lot of people quite happy in the environment they've got but they're are a lot of people who are not. There's still a fair number of people who voted yes."
As an incorporated area, Salt Spring would have elected a mayor and six councilors, but still, have representation on the CRD and Islands Trust boards.
Salt Spring is B.C.’s largest unincorporated community. It is also the largest of the 13 major Gulf Islands.