Letter from Selina Robinson, MLA Re: Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

Correspondence from Selina Robinson, MLA regarding Local Elections Campaign Financing Act

Council RDF agenda

January 16, 2014

His Worship Mayor Graham Hill and Members of Council Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor Hill and Councillors,

Happy New Year. I hope that 2014 is a year of good health and good governance for you all.

As you are likely aware, the Province intends to introduce the long awaited Local Elections Campaign Financing Act during the upcoming Spring 2014 legislative session. These proposed changes stem from the 2010 recommendations made by the Local Government Elections Task Force and represent the first major changes to municipal elections in many years. I am writing to seek your feedback on the proposed bill and offer myself as your representative in the upcoming legislative debate as the Opposition Critic for Local Government.

The changes that are being proposed are noted in a number of documents that can be found on the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development website:

• Report of the Local Government Elections Task Force – May 2010
• White Paper on Local Government Election Reform – September 2013
• Summary of Consultation Comments – November 2013
• Expense Limits Discussion paper – November 2013

There has been a long history of attempts to introduce legislation stemming from these recommendations. In July 2010, the Province announced that it had been given the 'green light' to implement the recommendations of the Task Force. Then in April 2011, the Province announced that it would not proceed with implementing those changes for the 2011 municipal election because there would not be sufficient time to inform all stakeholders of the changes in advance. In the Spring 2014 Legislative session we will be debating these proposed changes in the months leading up to a municipal election.

You will note that a key recommendation of the Local Government Elections Task Force – the establishment of campaign expense limits – is not included in these proposed changes. The Province has decided that more study is needed and they are seeking feedback on their November 2013 Expense Limits Discussion paper by January 31, 2014, for implementation in advance of the November 2017 municipal election.

Following these years of consultation, I invite you to share any thoughts and concerns you might have about these proposed changes with me, so that I am able to seek clarification and, if necessary, changes through debate in the legislature. The best way to reach me is by email Selina.robinson.mla@leg.bc.ca

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing from you. Please do not hesitate to contact me on any matters of concern to your local government.

All the best,

Selina Robinson, MLA Official Opposition Critic for Local Government and Sports