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Deposited with Clerk of the Legislative Assembly on December 16, 2015
Part 17 — Improvement Districts
673 In this Part:
"assessor" means, except in section 711 [tax collection on behalf of improvement district], the improvement district officer assigned responsibility for assessing land and improvements for the improvement district;
"collector" means, except in section 711, the improvement district officer assigned responsibility for collecting taxes for the improvement district;
"manufactured home" means a single family dwelling manufactured as a unit, or in units, intended to be occupied in a place other than that of its manufacture, and designed so that it may be drawn or moved from place to place;
"manufactured home park" means land used or occupied by a person to provide spaces for the accommodation of 2 or more manufactured homes and for imposing a charge or rental for the use of the space;
"owner", in relation to land, means a person who
(a) is entitled to possession of the land, or
(b) has a substantial interest in the land;
"tax sale notice" means a notice required under section 720 (1) [tax sale notice to affected owners and charge holders].
674 If an enactment requires or permits
(a) notice to be given to an improvement district or improvement district board,
(b) a document to be served on an improvement district or improvement district board,
(c) a document to be filed with an improvement district or improvement district board, or
(d) a document to be delivered, sent, submitted or otherwise provided to an improvement district or improvement district board,
the notice, service, filing or provision is effected if the notice or document is, as applicable, given, served on, filed with or provided to the improvement district corporate officer.
Division 2 — Incorporation of Improvement Districts
675 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by letters patent, incorporate an area of land comprising 2 or more parcels, whether contiguous or not, and its owners into an improvement district, under a name and with objects that appear advisable and with powers considered necessary to carry out those objects.
(2) The letters patent for an improvement district may do one or more of the following:
(a) provide that some provisions of this Act do not apply to the improvement district and that other special provisions apply;
(b) provide that some provisions of the Water Sustainability Act do not apply to the improvement district and that other special provisions apply;
(c) divide the improvement district into zones, specify the number of trustees to be elected from each zone, provide for the election and method of election of trustees in any zone and provide for general meetings of landowners in each zone.
(3) Subsection (2) (a) does not apply in relation to the following sections of this Act and, to the extent that there is an inconsistency between a requirement under those sections and a provision of the letters patent for an improvement district, the requirement under the applicable section prevails and the provision of letters patent is of no force and effect:
(a) section 686 [meeting procedure];
(b) section 690 [annual general meeting];
676 (1) The minister may recommend to the Lieutenant Governor in Council incorporation of a new mountain resort improvement district if
(a) the establishment of the proposed improvement district has been approved by the board of the regional district in which the area of the proposed improvement district is located, and
(b) the minister is satisfied that
(i) alpine ski lift operations, year-round recreational facilities and commercial overnight accommodation are offered within the area of the proposed improvement district, or
(ii) a person has entered into an agreement with the government with respect to developing alpine ski lift operations, year-round recreational facilities and commercial overnight accommodation within the area of the proposed improvement district.
(2) On the recommendation of the minister under subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by letters patent, incorporate an area of land outside a municipality and comprising 2 or more parcels, whether contiguous or not, and its owners into a mountain resort improvement district, under a name and with objects that appear advisable and with powers considered necessary to carry out those objects.
(3) The letters patent for a mountain improvement district may do one or more of the following:
(a) provide that some provisions of this Act do not apply to the mountain resort improvement district and that other specified provisions apply;
(b) provide that some provisions of the Water Sustainability Act do not apply to the mountain resort improvement district and that other specified provisions apply;
(c) divide a mountain resort improvement district into zones, specify the number of trustees to be elected from each zone, and provide for the election and method of election of trustees in any zone.
(4) Section 698 (1) (b), (c) and (d) [bylaws respecting borrowing] does not apply to a mountain resort improvement district unless the letters patent provide otherwise.
677 (1) On the establishment of a mountain resort improvement district under section 676, parcels in the mountain resort improvement district are subject to section 8 (3) [incorporation of mountain resort municipality in accordance with improvement district letters patent] without special endorsement on the indefeasible title.
(2) The registrar of land titles may, and on application of a mountain resort improvement district must, make the following notation on every indefeasible title of resort land issued on or after the establishment of the improvement district:
"This land is located in a mountain resort improvement district and is subject to the letters patent for that improvement district."
(3) An application under subsection (2) must contain a description of the resort land that is sufficient for the registrar to identify it in the records of the land title office and must be in the form approved under the Land Title Act.
(4) In the event of any delay, omission, mistake or misfeasance by the registrar of land titles or the registrar's employees in relation to making a notation under subsection (2),
(a) the registrar of land titles is not liable and neither the Provincial government nor the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia is liable vicariously,
(b) the assurance fund or the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia as a nominal defendant is not liable under Part 19.1 of the Land Title Act, and
(c) the assurance fund or the minister charged with the administration of the Land Title Act as a nominal defendant is not liable under Part 20 of the Land Title Act.
678 (1) If it appears to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that an improvement district, other than a mountain resort improvement district, will undertake the functions of an existing water users' community or development district, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may dissolve the water users' community or development district.
(2) If it appears to the Lieutenant Governor in Council that a mountain resort improvement district will undertake the functions of an existing water users' community, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may dissolve the water users' community.
(3) The power of dissolution conferred by subsection (1) or (2) may be exercised despite any other statute, special or otherwise.
(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may do one or more of the following, effective on the dissolution under this section:
(a) transfer to and vest in an improvement district any of the rights, property and assets of the water users' community or development district;
(b) transfer to and declare as assumed by an improvement district any of the obligations of the water users' community or development district;
(c) continue in force any bylaws or resolutions of the water users' community or development district as bylaws or resolutions of an improvement district applicable to the area of the improvement district to which they applied as bylaws or resolutions of the water users' community or development district until those bylaws or resolutions are amended or repealed by the improvement district board;
(d) require the improvement district board to amend or repeal by a specified date a bylaw or resolution continued under paragraph (c);
(e) deem a reference to the water users' community or development district in any commercial paper, lease, licence, permit or other contract, instrument or document to be a reference to the improvement district.
(5) In an order under subsection (1) or (2), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may specify deletions of and alterations in endorsements or entries made against any indefeasible or absolute title or other document deposited in a land title office or created under the Land Title Act or any statute repealed by that Act.
(6) Despite the Land Title Act or any other statute, a registrar of land titles must make the deletions and alterations specified as referred to in subsection (5).
679 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, authorize the minister to make orders amending letters patent for an improvement district, subject to any restrictions and conditions established by the regulation.
(2) Sections 39 [rights and liabilities not affected by revocation and reissue of letters patent] and 40 [existing licences preserved] apply in respect of improvement districts.
680 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, revoke the letters patent that incorporated or continued an improvement district.
(2) If an improvement district is located in a municipality incorporated under section 3 (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council must exercise the power under subsection (1) of this section to revoke the letters patent for the improvement district no later than January 1 of the year that is 4 years after the year in which the municipality was incorporated.
(3) If an improvement district is located in a mountain resort municipality incorporated under section 8 (4), the Lieutenant Governor in Council must exercise the power under subsection (1) of this section to revoke the letters patent for the improvement district effective at the time the mountain resort municipality is incorporated.
(4) On the revocation of the letters patent that incorporated or continued an improvement district, the improvement district is dissolved.
681 (1) If an improvement district is dissolved or the letters patent for an improvement district are amended to reduce the area of the improvement district or to modify or repeal an object of the improvement district, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by order, do one or more of the following:
(a) transfer to and vest in a municipality, a regional district or another improvement district any of the improvement district's rights, property and assets;
(b) transfer to and declare as assumed by a municipality, a regional district or another improvement district any of the improvement district's obligations;
(c) if all or part of the improvement district is located in a municipality,
(i) continue a service of the improvement district as a local area service of the municipality and exercise any power under section 31 (1) and (2) [establishment of local area service] that may be exercised by letters patent, or
(ii) continue a service of the improvement district as a service of the municipality;
(d) continue in force any bylaws or resolutions of the improvement district as bylaws or resolutions of a municipality, regional district or other improvement district that apply to the area of the municipality, regional district or other improvement district to which they applied as bylaws or resolutions of the originating improvement district until they are amended or repealed by the municipal council, regional district board or other improvement district board;
(e) require the municipal council, regional district board or improvement district board to amend or repeal, by a specified date, a bylaw or resolution continued under paragraph (d);
(f) specify a date for the purposes of subsection (4), which may not be more than 3 years after the date the bylaw is continued under paragraph (d) of this subsection;
(g) deem a reference to the improvement district in any commercial paper, lease, licence, permit or other contract, instrument or document to be a reference to a municipality, a regional district or another improvement district.
(2) If an order under subsection (1) (c) (i) provides for the establishment of a local area service, section 31 (3) to (7) [local area service bylaws] applies for the purposes of this section.
(3) The requirement in section 13 (1) (a) and (b) of the Community Charter to first obtain the consent of a local government does not apply in relation to a service if
(a) the service is continued under subsection (1) (c) of this section on dissolution of an improvement district, and
(b) the service is to be provided by the municipality in an area outside the municipality to which the service was provided by the improvement district at the time the improvement district was dissolved.
(4) If a municipality or regional district does not have the power to adopt a provision of a bylaw that is continued under subsection (1) (d) as a provision of a bylaw of the municipality or regional district, the municipality or regional district is deemed to have the power to adopt that provision of the bylaw until the earlier of
(a) the repeal of that provision of the bylaw, and
(b) the date specified under subsection (1) (f) in respect of that bylaw.
682 (1) Despite this or any other Act, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by letters patent or by order, do one or more of the following in relation to the incorporation of an improvement district, the extension or reduction of the area of an improvement district or the addition, modification or repeal of an object of an improvement district:
(a) impose requirements on the improvement district;
(b) restrict the powers of the improvement district;
(c) make provisions the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers appropriate for the purpose of preventing, minimizing or otherwise addressing any transitional difficulties;
(d) in respect of a provision included in the letters patent or order under paragraphs (a) to (c), provide an exception to or a modification of a requirement or condition established by an enactment.
(2) Despite this or any other Act, letters patent for an improvement district or an order of the Lieutenant Governor in Council under this Part may establish any terms and conditions the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers appropriate in respect of any matter related to the letters patent or order.
(3) As a restriction, in exercising a power under this section, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may not override an absolute prohibition contained in an enactment.
Division 3 — Governance and Organization
683 (1) The powers of an improvement district are to be exercised and its property is to be managed by a board of trustees consisting of
(a) trustees elected by the persons entitled to vote as provided in the letters patent, or
(b) if no provision is made for the election of trustees in the letters patent, trustees elected by the owners of land in the improvement district.
(2) Despite subsection (1), the Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint the first trustees of an improvement district, or may appoint a person to conduct the first election of trustees.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in the letters patent and except as to trustees elected to fill vacancies resulting from death, resignation or disqualification, the term of office of a trustee continues until the date of the improvement district election that is held in the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the trustee was elected or appointed.
(4) A majority of the trustees constitutes a quorum.
(5) Whenever the trustees in office do not constitute a quorum, the inspector may make provision at the expense of the improvement district for an election to fill the vacancy among the trustees.
(6) If a vacancy referred to in subsection (5) is not filled by the election under that subsection, the Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint a person the Lieutenant Governor in Council thinks proper to fill the vacancy, and it is not necessary for the person to be an owner of land in the improvement district.
684 (1) In order to vote at an election for improvement district trustees, a person must be
(b) 18 years of age or older, and
(c) entitled to be registered as a voter under the Election Act.
(2) Improvement district elections may be held at the annual general meetings of the improvement districts or otherwise, and the voting may be done by secret ballot or otherwise.
(3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, prescribe the procedure to be followed in conducting any election for improvement district trustees.
(4) A person who is qualified to vote at an improvement district election and who voted or applied to vote in the election may appeal to the Supreme Court against the order of the presiding officer accepting or rejecting a vote or ballot or the result of the election.
(5) An appeal under subsection (4) must be made in writing within 2 weeks after the election.
(6) On an appeal under subsection (4), after the hearing or investigation the court believes proper, it may confirm or amend the order appealed against or may declare the election of no effect and order a new election, establishing the date, time, place and conditions.
(7) An election must not be set aside because of an innocent irregularity, unless the court is satisfied that the irregularity affected the result of the election.
685 (1) Subject to the letters patent, the trustees must elect one of their number as chair at the first meeting in each year and at the first meeting after a vacancy occurs in the office.
(2) The chair must preside at meetings of the improvement district board.
(3) The chair has a vote, and a question on which there is an equality of votes is deemed to be defeated.
(4) If the chair is absent from a meeting, the members present must appoint one of their number to act as chair.
686 (1) An improvement district board must, by bylaw, do the following:
(a) establish the procedures that are to be followed for the calling of meetings of the board and for the conduct of its business, including the manner by which resolutions may be passed and bylaws adopted;
(b) establish the procedures that are to be followed in calling and conducting
(i) meetings of select and standing committees of the board,
(ii) meetings referred to in section 690 [annual general meeting], and
(iii) meetings of any other committee composed solely of trustees of the improvement district acting in that capacity;
(c) establish the procedures for giving advance public notice respecting the date, time and place of meetings referred to in section 690 [annual general meeting] and any other meetings required to be open to the public by a regulation under section 687 (a) [regulations for public access to board meetings].
(2) The inspector or the chair of the improvement board may call a meeting of the trustees for any purpose, and the chair must do so when requested in writing by the inspector or by a majority of the trustees.
(3) The chair or the corporate officer must give notice to each trustee of each meeting of the improvement district board in accordance with the procedures established by bylaw under subsection (1).
687 The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations as follows:
(a) making the provisions of section 223 [minutes of board meetings and committee meetings] of this Act, Division 3 [Open Meetings] of Part 4 of the Community Charter and sections 133 [expulsion from meetings] and 282 (2) (c) [regulations relating to meeting rules] of the Community Charter, as applicable, apply in relation to meetings of
(i) improvement district boards,
(ii) select and standing committees of improvement district boards, and
(iii) any other body established by an improvement district board;
(b) excluding a body under paragraph (a) (iii) from the application of one or more of the provisions referred to in paragraph (a);
(c) modifying any of the provisions referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to bodies referred to in that paragraph;
(d) making section 223 (2) [minutes of board committee meetings] applicable to meetings referred to in section 690 [annual general meeting] and modifying any of the provisions of section 223 (2) in relation to those meetings;
(e) requiring that the minutes of a board meeting, or a part of a board meeting, that is not closed under section 90 of the Community Charter, as that section may be made to apply by regulation under paragraph (a) of this section, be made available for public inspection.
688 (1) Subject to the letters patent, the first meeting in each year of an improvement district board must be held after, but not later than 30 days after,
(a) the date in the year on which the annual general meeting of the district, or
(b) the last general meeting of a zone of it has been held.
(2) The time and place of the first meeting in each year must be set
(b) by a majority of the trustees, or
(c) in the case of the first meeting of the improvement district board after incorporation, by the official responsible for conducting the first election.
689 (1) An improvement district board may appoint a select committee to consider or inquire into any matter and report its findings and opinion to the board.
(2) An improvement district board may establish standing committees for matters the board considers would be better dealt with by committee and may appoint persons to those committees.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), persons who are not trustees may be appointed to select and standing committees.
(4) At least one member of each select and standing committee must be a trustee.
690 (1) At least once in every calendar year, an improvement district board must call an annual general meeting of the owners of land in the improvement district at which it presents the audited financial statements for the preceding calendar year.
(2) The annual general meeting must be open to the public.
(3) At least 14 days before the annual general meeting, the improvement district board must give advance public notice of the date, time and place of the meeting in accordance with the procedures established by bylaw under section 686 (1) (c) [advance public notice].
691 (1) The fiscal year for an improvement district is the calendar year.
(2) Improvement district financial statements for a fiscal year must be
(a) prepared by the financial officer, and
(b) presented to the improvement district board for its acceptance.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), the financial statements must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for local governments.
(4) The inspector may require or authorize, generally or for a specified improvement district, that the financial statements vary from or include additional information to the requirements of subsection (3).
(5) By May 15 in each year, the improvement district board must submit to the inspector the audited financial statements of the improvement district for the preceding year and any other financial information required by the inspector.
692 (1) An improvement district board must appoint an auditor for the improvement district.
(2) Sections 169 [municipal auditor] and 171 [auditor's reports] of the Community Charter apply to a person appointed under subsection (1).
693 (1) The improvement district board may
(a) provide for the appointment of officers and other employees for the improvement district, and
(b) subject to the Labour Relations Code and the Employment Standards Act, establish the terms and conditions of their employment, including terms and conditions respecting their remuneration, benefits, expenses, hours of work and manner of appointment, promotion, discipline and dismissal.
(2) In the event of a conflict between terms and conditions of employment established by bylaw, resolution or policy and those established by contract of employment or collective agreement, the contract or agreement prevails.
(3) Subject to a contract of employment and subject to providing the officer with an opportunity to be heard, the appointment of an improvement district officer may be terminated by the improvement district board as follows:
(a) in the case of termination for cause, by immediate termination without any period of notice;
(b) in any other case, by termination on reasonable notice.
(4) A termination under subsection (3) (b) may be made only by the affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of all trustees.
694 (1) The improvement district board
(a) must, by bylaw, establish officer positions in relation to the duties under sections 695 [corporate administration] and 696 [financial administration], with titles the board considers appropriate,
(b) may, by bylaw, establish other officer positions for the improvement district, with titles the board considers appropriate, and
(c) may, by bylaw or resolution, assign powers, duties and functions to those officer positions.
(a) the improvement district board may assign to an officer position powers, duties and functions in addition to those required or permitted to be assigned under this Act or another enactment, and
(b) the same person may be appointed to 2 or more officer positions.
(3) Words in an enactment referring to an improvement district officer, by name of office or otherwise, also apply to
(b) any person designated by the improvement district board to act in the officer's place.
695 One of the officer positions established under section 694 must be assigned the responsibility of corporate administration, which includes the following powers, duties and functions:
(a) ensuring that accurate minutes of the meetings of the improvement district board and its committees are prepared and that the minutes, bylaws and other records of the business of the board and its committees are maintained and kept safe;
(b) ensuring that access is provided to records of the improvement district board and its committees, as required by law or authorized by the board;
(c) signing and certifying copies of bylaws and other documents, as required or requested;
(d) accepting, on behalf of the improvement district or the improvement district board, notices and documents that are required or permitted to be given, served on, filed with or otherwise provided to the improvement district or board;
(e) keeping the improvement district's seal and having it affixed to documents as required.
696 One of the officer positions established under section 694 must be assigned the responsibility of financial administration, which includes the following powers, duties and functions:
(a) receiving all money paid to the improvement district;
(b) ensuring the keeping of all funds and securities of the improvement district;
(c) expending and disbursing money in the manner authorized by the improvement district board;
(d) investing funds, until required, in investments under section 697 (4) [authority equivalent to municipal investment authority];
(e) ensuring that accurate records and full accounts of the financial affairs of the improvement district are prepared, maintained and kept safe;
(f) compiling and supplying information on the financial affairs of the improvement district required by the inspector.
Division 4 — Powers and Operations
697 (1) An improvement district is a corporation and has all powers necessary or useful in carrying out its objects.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), an improvement district may do one or more of the following:
(a) acquire, hold and dispose of land and other property, and charges on and interest in land and other property;
(b) borrow money and issue bonds, debentures, mortgages and other securities;
(d) assess land and improvements, levy and collect taxes, tolls and other charges and recover them by suit, by distress or by sale of the assessed land;
(e) construct, repair, improve, manage, maintain and operate works of any kind;
(f) regulate the distribution of water, electricity or any other thing or service provided or conveyed by the improvement district;
(h) anything incidental to the things referred to in paragraphs (a) to (g) or necessary to carry out its objects.
(3) All contracts that, if made between natural persons, would have to be made in writing must be made under the district's seal.
(4) Money held by an improvement district that is not immediately required may be invested or reinvested by the improvement district board in investments referred to in section 183 [investment of municipal funds] of the Community Charter.
698 (1) An improvement district board may make bylaws for one or more of the following:
(a) entering into a contract about land or works;
(b) borrowing by way of loan, temporary or otherwise, from a bank or from any person, amounts the board considers necessary;
(c) executing cheques, promissory notes or other instruments that may be necessary or desirable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (b);
(d) borrowing money by the issue and sale of notes, bonds, debentures and other securities in principal amounts the board considers necessary;
(e) establishing tolls and other charges, including charges for capital expenditures, payable to the improvement district, and the times of their payment;
(f) establishing discounts or percentage additions to encourage the prompt payment of tolls and charges under paragraph (e);
(g) establishing the manner in which interest is calculated if
(i) this or another Act provides a requirement or authority to apply interest to an amount owed to, or owing by, the improvement district, and
(ii) the manner in which interest is calculated is not otherwise provided for;
(h) establishing the basis of assessment of the land and the value of land and improvements in the district;
(i) establishing the method to be followed by the assessor in classifying land in the district for assessment purposes;
(j) regulating the distribution and use of water, power or any other thing or service made available;
(k) regulating and requiring the provision of works and services in respect of the subdivision of land;
(l) in relation to manufactured home parks,
(i) establishing a charge for fire protection for each space occupied by a manufactured home in a manufactured home park, payable by the person in charge of or operating the park,
(ii) establishing the time of payment of the charge, and
(iii) authorizing inspection by the improvement district of a manufactured home park and the records of the operator of the park;
(m) establishing penalties for failure to comply with bylaws of the improvement district board;
(n) establishing a reserve fund for one or more capital purposes.
(2) Securities under subsection (1) (d)
(a) may be in a form, may bear interest at a rate and may be made payable as to principal and interest at the time, in the manner, at the place and in the currency the improvement district board considers expedient, and
(b) may be made redeemable in advance of maturity at the time and at the price the board, by bylaw, determines at the time of issue.
(3) Section 716 [lien for taxes and tolls] and Division 6 [Tax Sales] apply to the collection of charges imposed under subsection (1) (l) of this section, and the money owing for the charges is deemed to be taxes recoverable under Division 6.
(4) The powers referred to in subsection (1) may be exercised only by bylaw, but all other powers of the improvement district may be exercised by the improvement district board by resolution.
699 (1) A bylaw of an improvement district must be signed by the corporate officer and the person presiding at the meeting at which the bylaw is passed.
(2) Subject to a regulation under subsection (4), an improvement district bylaw is effective only on registration with the inspector.
(3) For an improvement district bylaw that requires registration under subsection (2), the inspector may register or refuse to register it, or take any other action the inspector considers is in the interest of the improvement district or the Provincial government.
(4) The minister may, by regulation,
(a) provide exemptions from the registration requirement under subsection (2), and
(b) provide that an exemption under paragraph (a) is or may be made subject to the terms and conditions specified by the minister or the inspector.
(5) Section 136 [when a bylaw comes into force] of the Community Charter applies to bylaws that are exempt from the registration requirement under subsection (2) of this section.
(6) Section 163 [evidence of municipal bylaws and other records] of the Community Charter applies to improvement districts.
700 (1) For the purposes of section 698 (1) (k) [works and services in respect of subdivision of land], the improvement district board may, by bylaw, require that, within the applicable subdivision, one or more of the following be provided, located and constructed in accordance with the standards established in the bylaw:
(a) a water distribution system;
(c) a sewage collection system;
(e) a drainage collection system;
(f) a drainage disposal system.
(2) A bylaw under subsection (1) may be different in relation to one or more of the following:
(3) An improvement district must not impose a requirement under subsection (1) in respect of a subdivision under the Strata Property Act.
(4) In addition to the authority under subsection (1), as a condition of
(a) the approval of a subdivision, or
(b) the issuance of a building permit if an agreement under subsection (8) applies,
an improvement district board may require that the owner of the land provide works and services, in accordance with the standards established in a bylaw under this section, on the portion of a highway that is immediately adjacent to the site being subdivided or developed, up to the centre line of the highway.
(5) In addition to the authority under subsection (1), if an agreement under subsection (8) applies, as a condition of the issuance of a building permit, an improvement district board may require that the owner of the land provide, on the site being developed, works and services in accordance with the standards established in a bylaw under this section.
(6) Requirements under subsections (4) and (5)
(a) may be made only to the extent that they are directly attributable to the subdivision or development, and
(b) must not include specific services that are included in the calculations used to determine the amount of a capital expenditure charge under section 698 (1) (e) [bylaw establishing charges payable to improvement district], unless the owner agrees to provide the services.
(7) If the owner agrees to provide the services referred to in subsection (6) (b), section 565 (2) (a) [deduction of amounts paid by owner] applies to the calculation of the capital expenditure charge.
(8) An improvement district board and a local government may enter into an agreement under which the local government may refuse to issue building permits in accordance with this section.
(9) The authority to require works and services under this section is limited to works and services that are within the objects of the improvement district as described in its letters patent.
701 (1) For the purposes of this section and section 702 [latecomer charges and other cost recovery]:
"excess or extended services" means a portion of a water, sewage or drainage system that will serve land other than the land being subdivided or developed;
"owner" means an owner as defined in the Community Charter.
(2) An improvement district board may require that the owner of land that is to be subdivided or developed provide excess or extended services.
(3) If an improvement district board makes a requirement under subsection (2), the cost of providing the excess or extended services must be paid for
(a) by the improvement district, or
(b) if the improvement district board considers its costs to provide all or part of these services to be excessive, by the owner of the land being subdivided or developed.
702 (1) If the owner is required under section 701 (3) (b) to pay all or part of the costs of excess or extended services, the improvement district must
(a) determine the proportion of the cost of providing the water, sewage or drainage facilities that it considers constitutes the excess or extended services,
(b) determine which part of the excess or extended service that it considers will benefit each of the parcels of land that will be served by the excess or extended services, and
(c) impose, as a condition of an owner connecting to or using the excess or extended services, a charge related to the benefit determined under paragraph (b) of this subsection.
(2) If the owner pays all or part of the costs of excess or extended services, the improvement district must pay the owner
(a) all the latecomer charges collected under subsection (1) (c), if the owner pays all the costs, or
(b) a corresponding proportion of all charges collected, if the owner pays a portion of the costs.
(3) If the improvement district pays all or part of the costs of excess or extended services, it may recover costs by a latecomer charge under subsection (1) (c).
(4) A latecomer charge must include interest calculated annually at a rate established by bylaw, payable for the period beginning when the excess or extended services were completed, up to the date that the connection is made or the use begins.
(5) Subject to subsection (6), latecomer charges must be collected during the period beginning when the excess or extended services are completed, up to
(a) a date to be agreed on by the owner and the improvement district board, or
(b) if there is no agreement, a date determined under the Arbitration Act.
(6) No latecomer charges are payable beyond 15 years from the date the services are completed.
(7) If an owner, in accordance with a bylaw under section 698 (1) (k) [works and services in respect of subdivision of land] or 700 [subdivision servicing requirements], provides water, sewage or drainage facilities that serve land other than the land being subdivided or developed, this section applies.
703 (1) If the objects of an improvement district include the operation of irrigation works, the right to divert, store and carry water granted under any licence for irrigation purposes appurtenant to land inside the improvement district is exercisable only by the improvement district or its assignees.
(2) An improvement district referred to in subsection (1)
(a) has the sole right to the use of all works for diverting, storing and carrying water authorized, constructed, maintained or used under the licence, whether they are inside the territorial limits or not, and
(b) may, without reference to the precedence of licences, distribute the water to any land inside the territorial limits.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply to licences for domestic or waterworks purposes if the objects of the improvement district include the operation of works for waterworks purposes.
(4) When an improvement district is dissolved, the rights granted under the licences appurtenant to the land within the territorial limits are again exercisable by the respective owners of the land.
704 (1) In addition to the rights conferred on licensees under sections 32 and 33 of the Water Sustainability Act, an improvement district whose objects include the operation of works for waterworks purposes may expropriate
(a) a licence authorizing the diversion of water from a stream or an aquifer that is suitable for a water supply for the improvement district, and
(b) any work constructed or used under authority of the licence and any real property required for the operation, maintenance and protection of the work.
(2) If an improvement district exercises a power under subsection (1) that does not constitute an expropriation within the meaning of the Expropriation Act, compensation as determined by the Supreme Court is payable for any loss or damages caused by the exercise of the power.
"aquifer" has the same meaning as in the Water Sustainability Act;
"stream" has the same meaning as in the Water Sustainability Act.
705 (1) An improvement district may expropriate land or works, or both, reasonably required to carry out its objects.
(2) The interest of a person in works located on Crown land, including works on highways, may be expropriated if the Lieutenant Governor in Council has consented to the expropriation.
706 (1) An improvement district must make adequate provision in advance to renew works when they require renewal, and must raise amounts for that purpose.
(2) The improvement district board must establish reserve funds for the purpose of renewal of works referred to in subsection (1), and amounts raised as required under that subsection must be credited to the applicable reserve fund.
(3) Money in a reserve fund, and interest earned on it, must be used only for the purpose for which the reserve fund was established.
707 (1) An improvement district has no obligation to convey or supply water or electricity or to provide any service to any person, land or premises.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a person to whom an improvement district refuses to convey or supply water or electricity, or to provide a service, may appeal to the inspector, who may make any order in the matter that the inspector considers just and reasonable.
Division 5 — Taxes and Cost Recovery
708 (1) The improvement district board may direct the assessor to prepare an assessment roll.
(2) The improvement district board must determine the basis of assessment, which may be by parcel, group of parcels, area or value of land or improvements or personal property, or any combination of them.
(3) Complete or partial exemption may be allowed for any of the bases of assessment or any kind or class of any of those bases.
(4) If areas are made a basis of assessment, the land may be classified into grades by any method of classification determined by the improvement district board.
709 (1) The assessor must assess every parcel of land or group of parcels in the name of the registered owner who appears entitled to possession of the land.
(2) After preparing an assessment roll, the assessor must
(a) mail an assessment notice to every assessed owner, showing the assessment of the owner's land and, if applicable, the assessment of the owner's improvements and personal property, and
(b) send an assessment notice to every holder of a registered charge on land who requests this in writing.
(3) The assessment notice must state the date of the first meeting of the court of revision under section 710, which must not be earlier than 2 weeks after the sending of the notice.
(4) The obligation to send an assessment notice under subsection (2) is satisfied if the assessor made a reasonable effort to mail or otherwise deliver the notice.
710 (1) The improvement district board must
(a) appoint 3 board members or other persons to constitute the court of revision, and
(b) provide for the revision of an assessment roll by the court of revision and for the consideration of all complaints about assessment.
(2) Any person having an interest in assessed land may file with the court of revision a complaint about the assessment of the person's land or other assessed land.
(3) The court of revision must consider the complaints filed and may ratify or amend an assessment.
(4) On completion of the revision, the court of revision must confirm the assessment roll.
(5) Within 2 weeks after notice of the determination of a complaint by the court of revision, a person may appeal to the inspector, who may, after the investigation that the inspector considers proper, ratify or amend the assessment.
(6) The assessment roll as confirmed by the court of revision and, if applicable, as amended by the inspector is valid and binding on all persons concerned, despite an omission, defect or error in it or in any assessment notice or the failure to send an assessment notice.
(7) An assessment roll referred to in subsection (6) remains in effect until a new roll has been prepared, revised and confirmed.
711 (1) This section applies to improvement districts whose objects include one or more of the following:
(c) financial aid to hospitals;
(d) acquisition of property for hospitals;
(2) If the improvement district is located wholly in one or more municipalities, the council of each municipality must levy and collect all taxes that may be levied on real property in the municipality by the improvement district for the objects referred to in subsection (1).
(3) If the improvement district is located wholly in a rural area,
(a) the assessor of the assessment district in which all or the greater portion of the improvement district is located must advise the collector of each collection district in which any part of the improvement district is located of the amount of money required to be levied by the collector and the applicable rates, and
(b) the collector must levy the amount according to the basis of assessment established by the School Act.
(4) If the improvement district is located wholly or partly in a rural area,
(a) with the consent of the Minister of Finance, the improvement district board may, on or before November 30 in each year, provide to the assessor of the assessment district in which all or the greater portion of the improvement district is located a statement showing the amount of money required by the improvement district for the objects referred to in subsection (1) for the following year, and
(b) on receipt of a statement under paragraph (a), the assessor must promptly apportion to the municipalities and rural area in the improvement district, according to the basis of assessment established by the School Act,
(i) the amount shown on the statement, and
(ii) an amount estimated for the cost of assessment and collection, interest on money paid in advance of collection, and losses through failure to collect.
(5) If the improvement district includes a municipality and rural area,
(a) the assessor of the assessment district in which all of or the greater portion of the rural area is located must advise the improvement district board, the council of the municipality and the collector of each collection district in which any part of the improvement district is located of the amount of money required to be levied and the applicable rates for each of the component areas of the improvement district, and
(b) the council of the municipality and the collector must levy that amount in their respective jurisdictions according to the basis of assessment established by the School Act.
(6) The amount to be raised within a municipality for improvement district purposes must be paid, on or before September 30 of the year in which the amount was levied, by the municipality to the improvement district, which must without delay pay the amount to the Minister of Finance.
(7) If the Minister of Finance considers the amount of money required by the improvement district under this section too large to be levied in one year, that minister may authorize that the amount be levied over a number of years and in the manner that minister considers appropriate.
(8) The Minister of Finance may advance to the improvement district from the consolidated revenue fund amounts requisitioned by the improvement district in respect of the taxes before they are levied or collected.
(9) Except as to the basis of assessment provided in subsections (3) to (8),
(a) the Taxation (Rural Area) Act applies to the assessment, levy, collection and recovery of all taxes imposed under those subsections on land and improvements in rural areas and to the addition of interest,
(b) those taxes, when assessed and levied, are deemed to be taxes imposed and assessed under the Taxation (Rural Area) Act, and
(c) the proceeds of those taxes must be paid by the Minister of Finance to the improvement district, less an amount that that minister considers should be retained to cover
(i) interest on any money paid in advance of collection, and
(ii) the annual amount required in repayment of any advance that has been made by that minister.
(10) Sections 709 [notice of assessment] and 710 [court of revision for assessments] do not apply to any taxes imposed, assessed or levied under this section.
712 (1) This section applies if
(a) all or part of a municipality is located in the area of an improvement district, and
(b) the objects of the improvement district include the provision of fire protection or street lighting.
(2) Despite any Act, the council of the municipality must impose and collect all taxes imposable by the improvement district on real property in the municipality.
(3) The improvement district board must notify the council of the municipality of the amount to be raised for improvement district purposes in the municipality for the current year.
(4) The Surveyor of Taxes must advise the council of the applicable rates for improvement district purposes, based on the net taxable value of land and improvements but excluding property that is taxable for school purposes only by special Act, to be applied throughout the area of the improvement district.
(5) The council must, under section 197 (1) (b) [property taxes for other bodies] of the Community Charter, incorporate the rates provided under subsection (4) of this section.
(6) For the purposes of subsection (4) and section 713 (2) and (3) [payments to improvement districts],
(a) the definition of "improvements" in the Assessment Act applies, and
(b) the exemptions in sections 129 to 131.01 [school tax exemptions] of the School Act apply.
713 (1) On demand, the council must pay to the improvement district board the amount to be raised in the municipality for improvement district purposes.
(2) The improvement district board may ask the council of the municipality to advance the amounts necessary to meet the current authorized obligations of the improvement district and the council may advance those amounts, but only on evidence of the money being needed for operations and obligations of the board.
(3) As a limit on subsection (2), the total of the advances that may be made under that subsection must be according to the ratio that
(a) the net taxable value of land and improvements of the property in the municipality that is in the improvement district, excluding property that is taxable for school purposes only by special Act,
bears to
(b) the net taxable value of land and improvements of the property in the improvement district as a whole, excluding property that is taxable for school purposes only by special Act,
according to the revised assessment rolls on which the tax will be imposed.
(4) The improvement district board must pay to the Minister of Finance, promptly on receipt, money received from the municipality that represents a share of advances made by the Minister of Finance on behalf of land and improvements in the municipality.
714 (1) An improvement district board may, by bylaw, levy taxes to raise the funds considered necessary to meet the obligations of the improvement district and to carry out its objects.
(2) Taxes under subsection (1) may be established on the basis of parcels, groups of parcels, values or areas, or any combination of them, and different rates of tax may be established for different grades or classes of land and improvements.
(3) A bylaw under subsection (1) may establish the minimum amount of taxes payable for a parcel or group of parcels and may provide for discounts or percentage additions to encourage prompt payment.
(4) Unless otherwise provided, a tax is deemed to have been levied and is owing on and from January 1 of the year for which the tax is levied.
(5) A person whose name appears on the assessment roll of an improvement district in any year as the owner of any land is liable to the improvement district for the taxes levied by the improvement district board for that year for that land.
(6) If the improvement district board levies a tax on the basis of values as referred to in subsection (2), it must adopt a variable tax rate system under which rates are separately determined and imposed for each property class.
(7) Section 199 [property tax rates regulations] of the Community Charter applies to a variable tax rate system under this section and, for these purposes, a reference to a municipality in that section is to be read as a reference to an improvement district.
(8) A tax bylaw or tax must not be questioned on the ground that the rate of the tax exceeds what is required for the purposes for which taxes may be levied.
(9) Any action in which the validity of a tax bylaw is questioned must be commenced within one month after registration of the bylaw under section 699 [process and registration requirements for bylaws].
715 (1) As soon as practicable after a tax bylaw comes into force, the improvement district board must have sent to every registered owner of assessed land a tax notice that
(a) shows the amount of taxes owing by the assessed owner to the improvement district, and
(b) provides sufficient information on assessment and the rates of tax to show how the taxes are computed.
(2) The obligation to send a notice under subsection (1) is satisfied if a reasonable effort was made to mail or otherwise deliver the notice.
716 (1) Despite any other enactment,
(b) every tax imposed or levied, accrued or to accrue on any land, and
(c) every toll or charge established under a bylaw of an improvement district
forms a lien and charge on the land on which it has been imposed, levied, accrued or established.
(2) A lien and charge referred to in subsection (1) has preference over any claim, lien, privileges or encumbrance of any person, except the Crown and municipal taxes previously accrued, and does not require registration to preserve it.
(3) If it is necessary or advisable to protect or enforce a lien referred to in subsection (1) by action or proceeding, this may be done by order of any court of competent jurisdiction, on application and on the notice that the court directs.
(4) A lien referred to in subsection (1) constitutes a lien and charge on the whole parcel of land affected, even though the tax, toll or charge forming the lien may have been imposed, levied, established or calculated on a part only, or on improvements of any kind or class.
(5) If a parcel of land on which there are taxes owing to an improvement district is subdivided, the collector may apportion the taxes among the separate parts of the parcel and their owners as nearly as possible in conformity with the classification of the land comprising the parts at the time the taxes were levied.
717 (1) The taxes payable to an improvement district bear interest at the rate prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council under section 11 (3) of the Taxation (Rural Area) Act from the March 1 next following the date on which they are levied, until paid or recovered.
(2) The interest under subsection (1)
(a) is from day to day deemed part of the taxes, and a reference to taxes is deemed to include all interest so added, and
718 (1) In addition to all other remedies for the recovery of taxes, including percentage additions and interest, an improvement district
(a) may hold a tax sale for the sale at public auction of all the land on which there are taxes owing to the improvement district for 24 months or longer at the date of the sale, and
(b) must hold such a tax sale at least once in each year.
(2) The improvement district board must set the date, time and place of the tax sale.
719 (1) In order to cover the expenses connected with a tax sale, the improvement district board may, by bylaw, establish amounts to be charged under subsection (2).
(2) The collector must charge against each parcel proposed to be sold at the tax sale the amount set under subsection (1).
(3) Notice, publication or advertisement of the tax sale, other than that required under section 720, is not necessary, but the improvement district board may direct the advertisement of a tax sale as it considers appropriate.
720 (1) At least 60 days before the date set for the tax sale, the collector must give written notice to the following, either by serving the notice or by sending it by registered mail,
(a) to each registered owner of a parcel proposed to be sold, and
(b) to the holder of any registered charge on the parcel.
(2) A tax sale notice must include the following:
(a) the time and place set for the tax sale;
(b) a short description of the land for which the taxes are owing;
(c) the amount of all taxes owing to the improvement district on the land and the amount of interest to the date of the tax sale;
(d) the amounts chargeable as expenses connected with the tax sale, including any applicable fee under the Land Title Act for issuance and registration of a tax sale deed;
(e) the upset price of the land for the purpose of the tax sale, being the total of the taxes, interest, expenses and fee;
(f) a statement that, if the amounts of taxes, interest and expenses are not paid before the tax sale, the collector will offer the land for sale by public auction at the time and place stated in the notice;
(g) a statement that the proposed tax sale of the land will be an absolute sale and that no right of redemption will remain in the owner or holder of the charge after the sale.
(3) On application, the Supreme Court may order that a tax sale notice may be served by substituted service in accordance with the order.
(4) The collector must retain a copy of each tax sale notice.
721 (1) The collector must conduct the tax sale in accordance with the following:
(a) on the day and at the hour and place set for the tax sale, if the amounts of taxes, interest and expenses for land described in a tax sale notice have not been paid, the collector must offer that land separately for sale at the upset price stated in the notice, and may sell it to the highest bidder;
(b) if there is a bid of the upset price, but no higher bid, the person bidding the upset price must be declared the purchaser;
(c) the collector may adjourn the tax sale from day to day or for a period not exceeding 7 days at any one adjournment until all the land is sold.
(2) If the purchaser of a parcel of land at a tax sale fails to pay immediately to the improvement district the amount of the purchase money, the collector must without delay offer the parcel for sale again.
(3) If a parcel of land is offered for sale at the tax sale and there is no bid, or no bid equal to or greater than the upset price, the improvement district must be declared the purchaser.
722 (1) At the time of paying to the collector the purchase price of land sold at a tax sale, the purchaser or an agent of the purchaser must
(a) sign a copy of the tax sale notice relating to that land, and
(b) state on the copy the full name, occupation and postal address of the purchaser.
(2) The signed copy of the tax sale notice under subsection (1)
(a) must be preserved by the collector with all the other records connected with the tax sale, and
(b) on the execution under section 723 of a deed of the land sold, is deemed to constitute the collector or the collector's successor in office as the duly authorized agent to apply
(i) on behalf of the purchaser for registration of the purchaser's title to the land, or
(ii) in case of the purchaser's death, on behalf of the purchaser's personal representative for registration of the representative's title to the land.
723 (1) Promptly after a tax sale, the collector must
(a) execute a deed of each parcel sold by the collector at the tax sale to the purchaser or, in case of the death of the purchaser, to the personal representative of the purchaser, and
(b) forward the deed to the registrar of land titles, together with any applicable fee under the Land Title Act.
(2) On receipt of a tax sale deed under subsection (1) and any applicable fee, the registrar of land titles must register indefeasible title to the land in the name of the purchaser or the personal representative, subject to Provincial taxes owing on the land.
(3) The registration of the improvement district or any other person as the owner of land under a tax sale deed executed under this section
(a) cancels registration of the indefeasible or absolute title of that land and any duplicate indefeasible title or absolute certificate of title outstanding for that land, and
(b) disencumbers the land of all interest of every previous owner or of those claiming under a previous owner, and of all claims, demands, payments, charges, liens, judgments, mortgages and encumbrances of every nature and kind, other than
(i) the restrictive conditions, reservations and exceptions subject to which the land was held at the time of the tax sale, and
(ii) existing liens of the Crown or of the municipality in which the land is located.
(4) In a court proceeding, a deed purporting to be issued for a sale of land for unpaid taxes, and purporting to be executed under this Act, is evidence that
(a) the deed is the tax sale deed that it purports to be,
(b) the sale alleged in the deed was conducted in a fair and open manner, and
(c) there were taxes due and in arrear on the land described in the deed at the time of the sale for which it could be sold.
(5) After the end of one year after the date on which the application is made to register in the purchaser the title of land sold at a tax sale, an action must not be brought, to recover the land or to set aside the sale of the land, against
(a) the registrar of land titles, the improvement district, the improvement district trustees or the collector for the sale of the land or registration of an indefeasible title to it, or
(b) except as provided in this section, against the improvement district, the improvement district trustees or the collector for any loss sustained because the land was sold.
(6) A person who at the time of sale was the registered owner of the land sold, or the personal representative or assignee of that person, or a person who at the time of sale was the holder of a registered interest in or charge on the land, must be indemnified by the improvement district for loss sustained by the person because of the sale of the land if
(a) the land was not liable to taxation by the improvement district during the period for which the taxes were levied on the land sold,
(b) the taxes for which the land was sold had been paid, or
(c) notice of the intention to sell or offer the land for sale was not given in substantial compliance with section 720 (1) [notice of tax sale].
(7) A proceeding to recover indemnity under subsection (6) must be commenced within one year after the date on which the application is made to register the title of the land in the purchaser.
(8) Despite subsection (6), there is no right to indemnity under that subsection if it is shown that the person claiming indemnity
(a) was aware at any time that the land was liable to be sold or offered for sale, or
(b) was aware at the time of the tax sale that the land was advertised or offered for sale.
724 (1) Subject to this section, if a parcel of land offered for sale at the tax sale sells for more than the upset price, on written request the surplus must be paid without interest to the registered owner or the personal representative of the registered owner.
(2) The money must not be paid under subsection (1) if a claim to the surplus is made by another person on the ground that the land belonged to the other person or that the other person is otherwise entitled to the surplus.
(3) If a claim referred to in subsection (2) is made, the surplus must be paid, without leave or order, into the Supreme Court, accompanied by
(a) a copy of the tax sale notice, and
(b) a statement of the collector setting out
(i) the facts under which the payment into court is made, and
(ii) the names of the registered owner and the claimant.
(4) Money paid into court under subsection (3) is payable out of court to the person entitled on the order of the court to be made on application in a summary manner and subject to the giving of notice as the court directs.
725 (1) Subject to this section, this Division applies to land in respect of which taxes are in arrear if
(a) the fee simple of the land is in the Provincial or federal government, and
(b) the land is held under a mortgage to or agreement for sale from
(i) the Provincial or federal government,
(ii) a minister of the Provincial or federal government, or
(iii) a board or corporation holding or having charge of the administration of the land on behalf of the Provincial or federal government.
(2) At a tax sale, the land must be sold subject to the interest of the Provincial or federal government and the collector must state at the time of sale that the interest of the Provincial or federal government is prior to all claims and is not affected by the sale.
(3) The Provincial or federal government may accept the tax sale purchaser as mortgagor or purchaser of the land and may deal with that purchaser to the exclusion of the person whose interest was sold at the tax sale and of all persons claiming under that person.
(4) If the Provincial or federal government accepts the tax sale purchaser as mortgagor or purchaser, that government must
(a) notify the improvement district board of this, and
(b) notify the registrar of land titles if the mortgage or agreement for sale is registered in the land title office.
(5) The purchaser is entitled to a refund from the improvement district of the amount the purchaser paid, together with interest at the rate prescribed under subsection (6), if the Provincial or federal government, as applicable,
(a) does not accept the tax sale purchaser as mortgagor or purchaser, or
(b) does not, within 6 months after the date of sale, notify the improvement district board that the government has accepted the purchaser.
(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may prescribe a rate of interest for the purposes of subsection (5).
(7) If a refund is made under subsection (5), the collector must promptly replace on the tax roll, as taxes in arrear, the amount of the taxes, interest, costs and expenses, together with the interest paid to the purchaser under that subsection.
726 The improvement district board may lease, sell or otherwise dispose of land of which the improvement district has been registered as owner under section 723 [registration of tax sale purchaser as owner] in the manner and on the terms it sees fit, and may apply the proceeds of sale for any purpose for which taxes that may be levied by the improvement district board under this Act may be applied.
Division 7 — Borrowing and Securities
727 If a bylaw of an improvement district provides for a sinking fund, the improvement district must pay the instalments of the sinking fund to the Minister of Finance, who must invest them in investments permitted for a trust fund under section 40 (4) of the Financial Administration Act.
728 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, on terms and in the manner and form the Lieutenant Governor in Council determines, guarantee the payment of principal and interest of
(a) notes, bonds, debentures or other securities authorized to be issued under this Act by an improvement district for any purpose of the improvement district, and
(b) loans, temporary or otherwise, authorized to be raised under this Act by an improvement district for any purpose of the improvement district.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the purposes of an improvement district include the following:
(a) the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, replacement, improvement and extension of works for diverting, storing and conveying water for domestic use and irrigation of land;
(c) the provision of fire protection;
(d) the provision of street lighting;
(e) the granting of financial aid toward the planning, constructing, reconstructing, purchasing, equipping or operating of a hospital, or the acquiring of land or buildings for those hospital purposes;
(f) the repayment of advances by the Provincial government to the improvement district;
(g) the repayment, refunding or renewal of all or part of a loan raised or securities issued by the improvement district;
(h) the payment of all or a part of any loan, liability or bonds, debentures or other securities, payment of which is guaranteed or assumed by the improvement district;
(i) the payment of any other liability or debt of the improvement district.
(3) A guarantee given under subsection (1) must be signed by the Minister of Finance, or by another officer of the Ministry of Finance designated by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.
(4) On the guarantee being signed in accordance with subsection (3), the Provincial government is liable to pay the principal and interest of the notes, bonds, debentures, securities and loans guaranteed, according to their tenor.
(5) In the hands of any holder of the notes, bonds, debentures or securities, a guarantee signed in accordance with subsection (3) is conclusive evidence of compliance with that subsection.
(6) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make arrangements to supply the money necessary to fulfill the requirements of a guarantee under this section and may advance the amount necessary out of the consolidated revenue fund.
729 The notes, bonds, debentures and other securities authorized and issued by an improvement district must
(a) bear the seal of the improvement district, and
(b) together with any coupons attached to them, bear the manual, engraved, lithographed or printed signatures of the chair and the financial officer, or of other persons the improvement district board may, by bylaw, determine.
730 (1) An improvement district that issues or has issued bonds or debentures must keep or cause to be kept, at the office of the improvement district or in the office of the registrar of the Ministry of Finance, a registry book in which
(a) the owners of any of its bonds or debentures may register them as to principal only, and
(b) transfers of bonds or debentures so registered may be registered.
(2) Bonds or debentures of an improvement district pass by delivery unless registered as to principal in the name of the owner in the registry book, in which case the fact of registration must be noted on the bonds or debentures so registered.
(3) After registration, a transfer of a bond or debenture is not valid unless it is
(a) made by instrument in writing signed by the registered owner or by the authorized attorney of the registered owner, and
(b) registered in the registry book.
(4) Registration of an instrument under subsection (3) must be noted on the bond or debenture.
(5) The registration of a bond or debenture under this section may be discharged and the transferability of the bond or debenture by delivery restored by registration of a further transfer to the bearer of the bond or debenture that is similarly registered and noted on the bond or debenture as referred to in subsections (3) and (4).
(6) After the registration of a bond or debenture has been discharged, its registration may again in like manner be effected or discharged.
(7) Despite registration of a bond or debenture, the interest coupons continue to be payable to bearer and to be transferable by delivery.
Division 8 — Other Improvement District Matters
731 The land and its improvements of an improvement district are exempt from taxation by the Provincial government, a regional district or a municipality including the City of Vancouver.
732 (1) A writ of execution against an improvement district may be issued only with the permission of the Supreme Court, and on the terms and conditions the court may specify.
(2) The corporate seal, books, tools and office furniture, fixtures and fittings of an improvement district are exempt from seizure or sale by process of law.
733 (1) An improvement district board has the power to indemnify against proceedings as set out in section 740 [indemnification against proceedings].
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the power to indemnify under that subsection applies in relation to the persons referred to in section 738 (1) (o), (p) or (r) [volunteers and committee members] as though those persons were officers or employees of the improvement district.
734 (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint a receiver to manage the affairs of an improvement district if it appears in the public interest to do so.
(a) all the powers of the trustees and other officers of the improvement district, and
(b) the exclusive control of the property, assets and revenues of the improvement district.
(3) After the appointment of a receiver, an action may not be brought against the improvement district or receiver without the consent of the Supreme Court.
Contents | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Schedule | Revision Schedule
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