The provincial government is proposing to add another year onto municipal politicians' terms.
On Tuesday (Feb. 25), the B.C. government announced it would introduce legislation to change local elections from three- to four-year cycles beginning with the 2014 elections. If passed, mayor and councillors elected this November would hold their seats until October 2018.
Under the proposed legislation, the four-year terms would also apply to school trustees, regional district directors and park board members.
All other Canadian provinces stage municipal elections every four years. The four-year terms give local governments more time to consult, plan and achieve community goals, Coralee Oakes, the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, said in a statement. It also cuts down on election costs.
"My experience as a municipal councillor convinced me that to succeed in today's complex world, local government needs enough time to plan and complete projects that build strong, inclusive communities," she said.
Last year, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) passed a resolution supporting extension of the term, UBCM president Rhona Martin noted. The B.C. School Trustees Association also followed suit.
"I am pleased to see another recommendation to update local government elections legislation moving ahead," she said.
