Columns: Local Government Is Our Servant, Not Our Master

UPDATED 07/21/10 – COMMENTS RECEIVED – By Maureen Bader. In May, when a B.C. task force released its recommendations to improve local government elections, one recommendation that didn’t get much attention was to increase the length of time local politicians stay in office from three years to four. Although having to ask voters less often for their support might be great for local politicians, it’s bad news for local citizens.

The B.C. provincial government struck the Local Government Elections Task Force in 2009 to find ways to improve the electoral process for municipal elections in B.C. Task force members included three provincial politicians and three Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) members. But UBCM is a lobby group that represents the interests of local politicians and was able to use its position on the panel to support its own recommendations. Some, such as campaign contribution limits and the corporate vote received a fair bit of attention. However the recommendation to increase the length of the election cycle flew under the radar screen.

UBCM has lobbied long and hard to give local politicians an extra year of job security. In the 1980s, it was UBCM that lobbied to increase the election term from two years to three. Since 2007, it has been actively lobbying the provincial government to extend the election term by yet another year. So the recommendation for a longer election cycle came as no surprise.

How does a local government lobby group justify an extra year of pay, perks and power?

Moving from a three to a four-year term is a big mistake.
UBCM claims holding elections less often will save money. Nice to know local politicians occasionally look for places to save taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars. But who really benefits with fewer elections? It’s the politicians, not the taxpayers.

UBCM claims a longer term will give local politicians more time to learn the ropes. Yet, according to CivicInfo BC, of the 1195 local government officials elected in 2008 (including mayors, councilors, trustees and regional district) only 18 per cent reported ‘no experience.’ Frankly, with 82 per cent getting re-elected, this excuse just doesn’t hold water.

UBCM also says that other provinces have four-year terms, so we should too. Since when does the excuse ‘everyone else is doing it’ make something right?

There is other bad news. Because there is no ability to recall municipal politicians, it is virtually impossible to remove a politician from office mid-term.

For example, in 2008 the mayor of Port Coquitlam was charged with a criminal offense. He was sentenced to a one-year conditional sentence and 18 months probation. Port Coquitlam councilors asked him to resign, but he refused. A longer term would have kept him in office even longer, leaving local citizens with questionable representation.

Moving from a three to a four-year term is a big mistake. It lets politicians hang around in office even longer without seeking the approval of voters. Local government is supposed to serve citizens, not itself. To enhance accountability, local politicians need to face voters more often, not less. There is no legitimate justification for the provincial government to increase the election term.

You can make your views known by contacting the Minister of Community and Rural Development, Ben Stewart, at 250-387-2283 or ben.stewart.mla@leg.bc.ca

—
About Maureen Bader:

CTF BC Director Maureen Bader

Maureen grew up near Vancouver, British Columbia. She comes to the CTF from the Public Affairs Bureau with the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Before that, she was the Manager of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

Maureen completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the Universidad Internacional de Mexico in Mexico City and her MBA from Simon Fraser University in B.C. She has worked in agriculture, banking, transportation, and energy industries in capacities ranging from market analysis to communications. She was active on the boards of directors of the Simon Fraser University Alumni Association and the Canadian Council for the Americas.

Maureen is an artist who has exhibited her paintings throughout B.C. She is a writer and active athlete.

ARCHIVED 072410

One Comment

1. 

   George F. Evens

   July 21, 2010 at 12:39 pm

   I have written a lengthy expose of this foolhardy notion to increase Municipal (Politicians) terms to four years (It is only 16 months until we go to the polls), so,I applaud Maureen Bader and welcome her to the enlightened voters box.

   Sadly, our sage advice is to fall upon deaf ears, as she is right about UBCM & Provincial Committee members are just doing the bidding, and no one cares about the VOTER, to even ask opinion, even the Voter presumably is true to expected form, apathetic.

   I, Like many, shudder to even contemplate another four years of the same gang running many of our Municipalities, with no effective recourse to Voters to rid ourselves of inept politicians. It just boggles the mind to think how insensitive and outwardly arrogant, too many politicians have become. But this sham review is certainly the epitome of stupidity and indifference toward voters.

   Reply