The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia has appointed an all-party Special Committee on Local Elections Expense Limits.

The committee’s recommendations will support the development of legislation and regulations necessary to implement expense limits for local elections in 2018. Expense-limit rules are intended to apply to municipalities, regional district electoral areas, boards of education, special purpose local governments and third party advertisers.

Following consultation with key stakeholders, the committee will make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly in two phases.

Phase 1: By Nov. 27, 2014, the committee will consider and make recommendations regarding the principles for establishing the relationship between elector organizations and their candidates with respect to expense limits and principles for establishing expense limits for third-party advertisers participating in B.C.’s local government elections.  

Phase 2: By June 12, 2015, the committee will consider and make recommendations on expense limit amounts for candidates. Among other things, the committee will consider spending data from the 2014 elections and a model of a flat-rate amount in jurisdictions with fewer than 10,000 people, and a per capita formula for those over 10,000 people.

The committee's work will draw upon the joint UBCM - B.C. Government Local Government Elections Task Force report and the results of public consultations on expense limits conducted by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development from November, 2013 to January, 2014.

Quote:

Committee convener, Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart  -

“To keep our democracy strong, we are continuing to update the rules governing local elections. Establishing fair, effective expense limits that reflect the diversity of B.C.’s communities will mark another important step in modernising local government elections in British Columbia.”

Quick Links:

Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Committees: http://www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/index.htm

Local Government Elections Reform: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/LocalGovtElectionReform

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 889-9441