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The series consists of records regarding the review and approval by the minister of bylaws concerning land use and planning, amendments to official community plans and their related amending bylaws and changes of zoning. These include case files for individual localities, in particular regional districts. The records were used for legal purposes, research and reference.

The records include a coded subseries, known as the "36 series," which documents planning bylaw review and approval, planning grant review and approval, and ministerial authorizations related to land use planning and management bylaws.

Planning bylaw review and approval involves planning bylaws that require ministerial approval (e.g., regional district, the Islands Trust, and the Resort Municipality of Whistler planning bylaws). Planning staff reviewed those bylaws in order to ensure that they did not conflict with provincial government interests.

Record types include correspondence, forms, briefing notes, bylaws, minutes, studies and reports, official community plans and their supporting documents, records regarding local committee meetings (agendas etc.) public hearings and workshops (public posting of notices, minutes from public hearings), responses from referral agencies (comments on bylaws by government agencies), documents regarding rezoning applications, petitions from the public and news clippings. Intermingled in the predominantly textual records are maps and engineering plans and some photographs. Records also include bylaw submission forms submitted with bylaws requiring approval of the minister.

The creator of the records used a coding system that assigned a code to each local government. For example, the regional district codes consisted of the two-digit alphabetic prefix “RD” for regional district followed by the alphanumeric coding system in use in the ministry responsible for municipal affairs at the time. In many cases the files would be labeled in such a way as to abbreviate the code. While the filing systems initially appear to be aimed at an alphabetical order, by locality, that order is often broken. Local government codes used in this record series can be found in Appendix D of the Administrative Records Classification System 1993 Edition. Some of the codes on files are extended with dashes or decimal numbers which represent subject categories.

The records were created by several ministries which carried out the functions and activities of provincial responsibility for local governments; in addition to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (the name used at different times), the creators included: the Department of Municipal Affairs; the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing; the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Transit; the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture; and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Housing.

This series consists of records relating to developing tools to support communities in economic and social crisis in BC. This includes providing economic and social support to communities in need such as resource dependent communities in immediate economic crisis caused by events such as mill closures, and inner-city urban areas experiencing economic and social issues. Records include agreement development, socio-economic background information, meeting materials, and draft agreements in Prince George and Victoria. These records were created by the Ministry of Community Development and the Ministry of Community Services from 2005-2009.
The records are arranged alphabetically by community name. They consist of correspondence, agendas and minutes, reports, news articles, draft agreements, and presentations. These records are classified under the 2006 version of the Local Government Services ORCS as community transition support policy and procedures files (55400-00).

The series consists of correspondence, briefing notes, reports, copies of court orders and studies created or received by the Local Government First Nations Relations section of the Ministry of Community Services. The records were created between 1955 and 2008, although the records predominantly date from the early 1990s onwards. The series is divided into three subseries : band issues files, local government case files, and First Nations organizational files. The division was made based on the original classification scheme assigned to the records by the creator.

The first subseries (containers 956965-0001 to 956965-0003) consists of band issues files. The records are arranged alphabetically by First Nations band name. Researchers should note that the creator used the official First Nations band names (for example, “Tsilhqot’in” rather than “Chilcotin,” and “Snuneymuxw” rather than “Nanaimo”). The records consist of correspondence, briefing notes, legal records, and press releases and provide evidence of the effect that actions of local First Nations bands had on non-Aboriginal municipalities, organizations, and individuals. Many of the files relate to taxation matters under the Indian Self-Government Enabling Act (RSBC 1996 c. 219). The subseries is based on Local Government Services ORCS (schedule 123679), secondary 55500-20.

The second subseries (container 956965-0003) consists of local government case files and provides evidence of the effect that the actions of local governmental bodies (i.e. municipalities, villages, and districts) had on First Nations bands. The records are arranged alphabetically by municipality name. The subseries is based on Local Government Services ORCS (schedule 123679), secondary 55500-30.

The third subseries (container 956965-0003 and 956965-0003) consists of First Nations organization files. These records provide evidence of the work of organizations such as the Indian Taxation Advisory Board and First Nations Financial Association. The files are organized in alphabetical order by the name of the association or board. The subseries is based on Local Government Services ORCS (schedule 123679), secondary 55500-50.

Electronic records from both the floppy disk and the CD ROM were printed and placed into their respective files. The Excel spreadsheet on the floppy disk did not appear to have been filled out, and instead appears to be a template. There did not appear to be any formulas or functions in the cells. The workbook is divided into 8 spreadsheets : specific targeted programs, roll-up of targeted programs, branch consultation costs, roll-up of consultation costs, interim measures by objective, roll-up of interim measures, branch resources for treaties, and division resources for treaties.

The series consists of improvement district letters patent and bylaw register files, 1922-2011. These records document the creation and dissolution of improvement districts, the approval and registration of their bylaws, and provincial government advice and support. Letters patent are the legal instruments for incorporating improvement districts in BC. They establish the name, boundary, services, voting procedures, and other fundamental aspects of each improvement district. Supplementary letters patent cover changes to improvement district boundaries, services, or the number of trustees. Improvement districts were initially created under the Water Act (SBC 1914, c. 81) to provide water and irrigation services to their residents. From 1914 to 1979, administrative responsibility for most improvement districts resided with the Office of the Comptroller of Water Rights (Water Rights Branch). In 1956, responsibility for improvement districts that provided fire protection came under the Dept. of Municipal Affairs, 1934-1976. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs (1978-1986) assumed administrative responsibility for all improvement districts in 1979 with the enactment of the Municipal Act (RSBC 1979, c. 290). This administrative responsibility continues under the Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) with the following ministries: Municipal Affairs and Transit, 1986; Municipal Affairs, 1986-1988; Municipal Affairs, Recreation, and Culture, 1988-1991; Municipal Affairs, Recreation, and Housing, 1991-1993; Municipal Affairs, 1993-1996; Municipal Affairs and Housing,1996-1998; Municipal Affairs, 1998-2001; Community, Aboriginal, and Women’s Services, 2001-2005; Community Services, 2005-2008; and Community Development, 2008-2009. Regional districts, introduced in 1965, provide many of the services once provided by improvement districts so new improvement districts will not likely be created. All improvement district bylaws are filed with the ministry and some require registration with the Inspector of Municipalities before taking effect. Others do not require registration, taking effect upon adoption by the trustees of the improvement district.

The records include correspondence, indexes, letters patent and supplementary letters patent, orders in council, approval certificates, and maps. They are arranged alphabetically by improvement district name; some of the records also contain an improvement district number and code. The records were classified under 52000-40 (improvement district letters patent files) of the Local Government Services ORCS, 2006 (schedule 126379).

The series consists of records of two different types, those concerning land use and planning in each municipality, and those concerning other aspects of administering the affairs of each municipality, such as incorporation and boundaries.

The first type of record includes land use planning records, falling under ORCS 52100, in particular those concerning official community plans, local property rezonings including applications to rezone, complaints against violations of zoning, proceedings of public hearings on zoning, building permits, building inspector correspondence and other records. The series also consists of records of the Secretary to the Board of Appeal for various areas, including the regulated areas of North Saanich, the Capital Region, Saanich, View Royal, Golden, including requests for rezoning, for building permits, and for certain types of land use.

The second type consists of bylaw advice and approvals, generally falling under the ORCs classification 51030. These records relate to approving municipal bylaws (except planning bylaws) that required the approval of the minister or inspector of municipalities, as well as providing related bylaw advice and support to municipalities.

The second type (bylaw advice and approvals excepting land planning bylaws) includes records concerning boundaries and boundary extension, local government structure, change of status, disincorporation, amalgamation, and order in council distribution.

The records include the files of the Inspector of Municipalities dating back as early as 1914, which include records concerning a broad range of records regarding the administration of local government, with subject matter including incorporation of localities in the province, changes in municipal status, including dissolution of incorporated bodies, amalgamation, boundaries and boundary extensions; legislation agreements and public investigations. Notably, the records include early files regarding the incorporation of many BC localities. These include plans, boundary descriptions, petitions and letters reflecting public opinion, local incorporation committee records including minutes, financial statements for local governments, and assessment rolls and taxation.

Record types include correspondence, bylaws, bylaw attachments and schedules, forms, sketches, photographs and maps and plans, public notices in newspapers, news articles, position papers, letters patent records and boundary descriptions.

The series consists of meeting minutes, reports, presentations, correspondence, work plans, briefing notes, and summaries of court decisions. The records were created between 1989 and 2008 by the Local Government First Nations Relations section of the Ministry of Community Services and are arranged alphabetically by topic. The records document the relationship between the provincial government and First Nations representatives, and provide evidence of the overall approach for developing effective working relations between the two. The series includes several files on Aboriginal litigation, and includes records citing the Delgamuukw case. The series consists of records dealing with capacity building, amendments to reserve land and boundary extensions, First Nations taxation, the Economic Measures fund, treaties and planning. The series is covered by BC ORCS schedule 126379 (Local Government Services), secondary 55500-40.

The series consists of records concerning bylaw advice and approvals (by the Province) for municipalities, villages, improvement districts and dissolved improvement districts. They include minister's orders, statutory approvals, and minister's authorizations of municipal and regional district bylaws and other requests.

These records show how the legal authority of the provincial government over local governments has been exercised over time. The records provide a history of the information, growth, structure, and activities of local government in British Columbia throughout most of the twentieth century, as well as documenting provincial government influence over these matters.

The series includes correspondence of the Inspector of Municipalities and of the Director of Municipal Administration division, regarding matters such as letters patent; election procedures; municipal status; capital loan bylaws; budget and tax rate bylaws; reserve fund bylaws; rates, charges and frontage tax bylaws; borrowing bylaws, and traffic bylaws.

The records include certificates of approval, with attachments such as the related bylaw or correspondence outlining the reasons for the requests for ministerial approval. They also include the minister’s approval register, which provides a summary of and index to ministerial approvals of municipal and regional district bylaws and other requests. The register contains the approval number, date of approval, name of municipality or regional district, and purpose of the bylaw. Records include lot plans, subdivision plans and other cartographic materials, and a small number of photographs.

The series also consists of records relating to the registration of village bylaws. From 1920 to August 17, 1998, villages were required to register their bylaws with the inspector of municipalities. This requirement began with the Village Municipalities Act (SBC 1920, c.65) and continued under the Municipal Act (s. 259(2). With the coming into force of Bill 31 in 1998, villages were no longer required to register their bylaws. They are now only required to submit for approval the same type of bylaws as other municipalities (e.g. loan authorization and security issuing bylaws).

Document types include various approved registered bylaws from municipalities, signed by the Minister and Inspector of Municipalities. Included are village bylaws, bylaws for villages that changed their status, and newly incorporated municipalities that were registered from 1920 to 1998, with attachments such as fee schedules or agreements.

Shannon files are boxed and contain at the front of the file a “resume” (index) of ministerial approvals arranged by approval number and date. They include the relevant municipality or regional district, purpose of the approval, and relevant act and section of act. These records are arranged alphabetically by name of municipality then numerically by bylaw number.

The series also consists of records of dissolved improvement districts, also created by various ministries and departments with the municipal affairs function. Within those departments and ministries, a division and office was responsible for local government services, and specifically responsible for overseeing the affairs of improvement districts throughout the province, including those handling waterworks, fire protection, and irrigation and drainage.

Records regarding the improvement districts include but are not limited to: first organization and letters patent, by-laws and their amendment, financial statements and annual returns, and dissolution of the improvement district. Improvement district records are located in accessions 88-0618, 91-0125 and 91-0296.

While some of the records were scheduled according to the Operational Records Classification System for Local Government Services (schedule 126379), many were classified by earlier systems.

The series consists of advisory and informational records developed by the provincial government for local governments to facilitate developing, adopting, and implementing regional growth strategies, which are strategic plans that commit participating municipalities and regional districts to a course of action to meet common social, economic, and environmental objectives, 1996-2006. The Local Government Act (RSBC 1998, c. 323) provides a framework for interactive planning between regional districts, municipalities, and the provincial government for creating these long-term land and resource management plans at the regional level. The plans often deal with rapid urban growth and its effect on matters such as air quality, affordable housing, transportation, drinking water, farmland, and wilderness, and natural areas. Some of the records in this series cover provincial government involvement in major projects such as large-scale transportation projects that may have significant environmental, economic, social, cultural, and health effects. The Local Government Department, part of the Ministry of Community Services and its predecessors, is responsible for this set of records.

This series is arranged by regional district or project name. The records include correspondence, memoranda, briefing notes, bylaws, minutes, agreements, and reports. The records are classified under growth strategy case files (55700-20) of the Local Government Services ORCS, 2006.