We have a number of levels of government to spend our tax dollars and tell us how to live. You're not alone if you aren't sure who deals with what. Because we all wonder how our tax dollars are spent, Pender Harbour Online notices which of our many local services, facilities, organizations and events benefit from government funding and programs. You may be surprised to learn that it’s just about all of them.

Regional District Government

• Sunshine Coast Regional District - 1975 Field Road, Sechelt (Wilson Creek) - 604-885-6800.
• Structure - The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) was incorporated on January 4, 1967. The SCRD board comprises an elected representative from each Sunshine Coast electoral area, plus the municipalities of Gibsons and Sechelt, and the Sechelt Indian Band. Halfmoon Bay Director, Gary Nohr, is the board chair. Pender Harbour-Egmont, or Area A, is the largest of the five SCRD electoral areas.
• Mandate - Similar to a municipal government but less independent, the SCRD collects taxes to manage parks, landfill sites, building permits, regional parks, some community services and other functions, e.g. transportation, recreation and library service. Zoning, land-use and other bylaws are tied to our Official Community Plan and enforced by the SCRD.
• Offsite link - Sunshine Coast Regional District.
• Regional Director, Area A - Frank Mauro, Garden Bay - 604-883-9749.
• Frank Mauro represents Pender Harbour-Egmont, or Area A, at the SCRD board. He was elected for a three-year term which began in December, 2011. His Alternate is Leonard Lee.
• Email >> Area A Director, Frank Mauro.
• Area A Planning Commission (APC)
• Profile - APC members are appointed by the Regional Director to provide local knowledge, community feedback, opinions and recommendations on subdivision and other land-use applications to be considered at SCRD meetings.
• Meetings - APC meetings are public, held most months at Pender Harbour Secondary School. Anyone wishing to speak must request, in advance, that their discussion item be put on the agenda.
• Download .pdf document >> Area A Official Community Plan (OCP).
• Offsite Links
• >> Local Government Act (unofficial).

Provincial Government

We are governed by the BC Liberal party with the New Democratic Party of BC as official opposition. Pender Harbour is in the provincial electoral area of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.

• Government Agent’s Office - 102-5710 Teredo Street, Sechelt - 604-885-5187.
• Services - Property tax and other Provincial bill payments; fish and wildlife license sales; Medical Services Plan (MSP) registration and payments; land title, company registration and lien searches; mobile home registration; pesticide license exams; boater safety courses and materials; navigable waters information; mining recorder information; and computer access to Provincial Government websites.
• Member of the Legislative Assembly - Nicholas Simons’ Constituency Office - 604-741-0792.
• Role in government - Nicholas Simons was elected for his second term in May, 2009, running for the New Democratic Party. He serves as Opposition Critic for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Immigration.
• Bio - Previously employed by the Sechelt Indian Band, Simons spent over 15 years working in health, justice, social services and child welfare. Simons is also a cello teacher and performer, former-President of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council and former Sechelt Minor Softball coach. He lives with his partner in Sechelt.
• Offsite link >> Nicholas Simons’ blog.
• Premier - Premier’s office, 250-387-1715.
• The Premier of British Columbia is Christy Clark.

Federal Government

We are part of the West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky riding, which is by far the longest, if not the most absurd, riding name in Canada.

• Member of Parliament
  John Weston was elected in October, 2008, running for the Conservative Party.
• Political Background - As founder of the controversial Canadian Constitution Foundation, he challenged the Nisga’a Treaty as being unconstitutional because it created a third level of government with the power to override Canadian Law.
• Bio - Born in Vancouver, Weston is a lawyer, businessman, Christian, author, and he holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
• Local Connection -Weston’s biggest local claim to fame is his uncle, the late Ernest “Smokey” Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient well-known in Pender Harbour.
• Prime Minister
  Stephen Harper has been Prime Minster of Canada since 2006. He is leader of the Conservative Party.
• Political Background - Harper was an MP for Calgary Southwest, founding member of the Reform Party, leader of the Canadian Alliance party and president of the National Citizens Coalition.
• Bio - Born in Calgary in 1959, Harper has his Masters in Economics from the University of Calgary and attends the evangelical Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. He has written articles on hockey and appeared on the Corner Gas television show. He and his wife Laureen (Teskey) have two children.
• Local Connection - We don’t think Prime Minister Harper has ever been to Pender Harbour, but we apologize if we’re wrong.

Lobby Groups

• Egmont Logging Advisory Committee - Partially in response to the Friends of Egmont’s “Save Our Watershed” campaign, former Regional Director John Rees facilitated formation of ELAC in 2007 to work with Tsain-Ko Development Corporation to restrict scheduled logging in the area. The group hopes to change logging practices and pressure the provincial government to further restrict activity in watersheds.

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