BC Gov looks to reform local elections to include four-year terms
By Nelson Daily Staff
Mayor John Dooley leading Nelson into the year 2018?
That’s on the horizon for Nelson voters as the B.C. government looks to introduce legislation during the current legislative session to change local elections from a three-year to a four-year cycle beginning with the 2014 elections.
The change, which must be passed in the legislative, would mean the next B.C. local election after November 2014 will be in October 2018.
Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes said the new “four-year terms” will give local governments more time to consult, plan and achieve community goals.
BC would be the last province in Canada to go to the four-year term as all other Canadian provinces hold local government elections every four years.
Included in the extension are B.C.’s mayors and all elected officials serving municipalities, regional districts, parks boards, school boards and the Islands Trust.
The change, recommended by the Local Government Elections Task Force, was passed in a resolution at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) in 2013.
“My experience as a municipal councillor convinced me that to succeed in today’s complex world, local governments need enough time to plan and complete projects that build strong, inclusive communities,” said Oakes.
“I’m confident this change, supported by UBCM and the task force, will help local governments continue to make B.C.’s communities great places to live and work.”
