BCGEU sets picket line at CRD’s Williams Lake Office

May 13, 2024
24-13

BCGEU sets picket line at CRD’s Williams Lake Office

Williams Lake, BC – As of 8:00 a.m. this morning, BCGEU has set up a picket line at the Cariboo Regional District’s office in Williams Lake. At this time, picket lines have only been set up at this location, and the CRD’s other offices have not been impacted.

The situation may change daily. We will continue providing updates as information becomes available, and will provide information about any locations which are being impacted by picketing.

As picket lines are limited only to the Williams Lake office, the service impacts will vary from our initial guidance, which was issued on May 8. Regular CRD business will continue to be conducted from the Quesnel and 100 Mile House offices.

Regardless, strike action taken by the Union will not impact the following services:

Fire Departments will not be affected, because they are staffed by volunteer firefighters and contract Fire Chiefs, and will continue with training and fire protection efforts.
Our landfills and transfer stations will not be impacted because they are operated by independent contractors, whose employees are not party to the CRD’s collective agreement with BCGEU. Transfer stations and landfills will continue to operate at regular hours, and services will not be impacted by the strike. For hours of operation, please visit our Hours of Operation webpage.
Operations, maintenance, and emergency repairs will continue to be provided to customers of the CRD’s 16 water and sewer systems. Please note that emergencies can be reported after hours by calling 1-800-665-1636 and select option 5 from the automated menu.
Central Cariboo Search and Rescue will operate normally, as it is staffed by volunteers.

The Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will still function in the event of an emergency. Work will also continue to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season and respond to current wildfire activity.

Libraries remain closed, no picket lines set up

While picket lines have not been set up at any libraries, CRD libraries remain closed to the public and library staff with scheduled shifts are continuing to work. Libraries were closed on May 9 to ensure the safety of staff in rural and remote areas in the event of a full walk-out, and will remain closed until further notice. Library support services staff working from the Williams Lake office are participating in the current picket line.

Services Impacted by picket lines

The following services are impacted by the picket lines in Williams Lake:

Board Meetings

Board meetings will continue for the duration of the strike. Agendas and minutes for Board Meetings are available online through our website. Livestreamed audio will also be available for the duration of the Board meeting, however no recordings of these meetings will be available afterwards. Please note that an active picket line should be expected for the duration of the strike, and access to the Board Room may be impacted.

Building Permit Applications

Williams Lake only:

Building permits can be submitted digitally to building@cariboord.ca. Due to limited staffing, no customer support is available to assist in completing Building Permit Applications.

Visit the Building Department’s web page at www.cariboord.ca/building to find out what is required as part of your permit application.

Building Permit processing will be completed on a first come first basis. No assured processing times will be given due to limited technical staff.

Quesnel and 100 Mile House:

No impacts. Building permit applications and supporting documents can be submitted and processed at our 100 Mile House and Quesnel offices.

Building Inspection Requests

Building inspection services will not be accessible from our Williams Lake office due to the strike. Building Inspection staff working from the Quesnel and 100 Mile House offices will continue to complete building inspections and file reviews as scheduled.

Building Inspections will generally be completed on a “first-come, first-served” basis with no scheduled dates or times given. Inspections which are in the same area as a priority inspection may also be scheduled if convenient for inspection personnel. For a list of required inspections, visit https://www.cariboord.ca/inspections-required/.

Please submit all Inspection requests to building@cariboord.ca. Include ALL of the following information in your request:

Name
Permit Number
Address
Type of inspection request

Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement – Building Permits and Inspection

We understand that builders are wanting to complete projects in a timely manner. However, it is important to complete all inspections required for permitted projects. The Regional District may still proceed with compliance and enforcement action if buildings are constructed without a permit or without necessary inspections being completed.

To enable compliance with the Regional District’s building and land use bylaws, you can:

Ensure that any permit applications submitted are complete and meet all building code submission requirements;
Phase construction work with projects at other sites to accommodate delayed inspection timelines; and
Delay minor projects until the strike is concluded and building inspection personnel are available.

Please note that fines of up to $500 per day may be issued for projects which proceed without a permit or without required inspections being completed.

Bylaw Complaints

We will continue to accept complaints about possible bylaw infractions, however no compliance or enforcement staff will be able to respond to the complaint during the strike. Bylaw complaints can be submitted online or made in person at our Quesnel and 100 Mile House offices.

Development Applications

Our ability to process development applications will be limited because of the strike. Applicants should expect delays and longer processing timelines because of the strike. Completed development applications can be submitted electronically to planning@cariboord.ca or at our offices in Quesnel and 100 Mile House.

Elections, AAP's and Referendums

Elections, alternative approval processes, and referendums that are required to be conducted during the strike will proceed as planned. We will attempt to establish polling stations at locations where strike action is not being undertaken to support any voter in their decision not to cross picket lines. Additionally, any voter may apply to vote by mail even if they would be able to otherwise attend a voting station.

Freedom of Information Requests

There may be delays to our responses to requests for information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Section 10 of the Act identifies circumstances where the Regional District may request a time extension for responses. We will communicate with individual requestors about any delays in meeting the 30-day response timeline under the Act.

Grant Writer Support Program

Grant writing support services will be postponed for the duration of the strike.

Grants of Assistance

Grants of assistance will continue to be accepted through our online application portal during designated times, and reviewed in a timely manner. Applications are accepted annually from August 1^st to October 2^nd for funding in the following calendar year. For more information, please visit our grants for assistance webpage.

Invasive Plant Management

Invasive Plant Management services and activities will be postponed for the duration of the strike. Requests for service can still be made, however we will be unable to assign a work order for that service until the strike concludes. You can submit your request for service to InvasivePlants@cariboord.ca.

Libraries

As library support service staff are based from Williams Lake, all InterLibrary loans along with processing and delivering new materials are being suspended. Additionally, library support services to community branches have been reduced.

At this time, libraries remain closed to the public.

Utility Billing and Payments

Utility bill payments will still be collected, however we will not be accepting payments through our offices at this time. You can pay your utility bill through:

Mailing a cheque to our Central Cariboo Office at:

Cariboo Regional District
Suite D – 180 Third Avenue North
Williams Lake, BC V2G 2A4

Online banking;
An ATM (Automated Teller Machine);
Telephone banking; or
In person at your bank with the assistance of a bank employee.

Questions about your utility bill can be submitted through the CRD’s central office at 1-800-665-1636 or by email to mailbox@cariboord.ca.

Zoning and Property Information

Due to the strike, general zoning and land use questions will not be taken. Property owners who wish to know what they are permitted to do on their property can use our online zoning tool to look up the applicable zoning regulation. We also encourage you to obtain legal advice to address specific questions about permitted uses in an applicable zone.