Bill 20 gains first reading towards change in Municipal affairs in British Columbia

The Provincial Government has gained first reading of some changes to how Municipal government works, the revisions to a number of municipal related legislation that answers some requests from the UBCM  and the City of Vancouver.

Municipal Affairs Minister Nathan Cullen introduced the First reading for the Legislation for Bill 20  on Thursday morning, highlighting the key changes that will come with its passage. 

"Bill 20 does five primary things. One, it removes redundant legislation that is no longer required. Secondly, it clarifies local government's authority on electronic meetings and subdivision of land that is not agricultural land. It updates legislation to provide gender-neutral language. Fourth, it provides the city of Vancouver the same authority all other local governments have to do energy benchmarking. And lastly, and most importantly, it implements new requirements for local elected officials who are charged with or convicted of criminal offences. 

These amendments include repealing the Auditor General for Local Government Act. Clarifying that the authority to hold electronic meetings applies to local government bodies. Providing certainty on an approving officer's statutory discretion to permit subdivision of land that is not agricultural land. 

Modernizing the Vancouver Charter by replacing gender-specific language with gender-neutral language. Authorizing the city of Vancouver to require energy benchmarking." 

Of note among the changes has been the new ability to force elected officials to step aside from their duties if charged with a criminal offence.

"Changing the timing of when disqualification of local elected officials applies to the time of conviction for an indictable offence and not waiting until sentencing occurs."

 It also requires a local elected official who has been charged with a criminal offence to take an immediate leave of absence from their duties. These changes are what municipal leaders have been calling for. These changes are what the public expects. These are changes that we seek to implement as government."

The Minister took to his Social media accounts today to make sure that news of that last element of the new legislation was widely distributed.

The Bill will come back for second reading when the Legislature returns to work on April 25th.

You can review his introduction of the bill to the Legislature through the video archive from Thursday morning's session, Mr. Cullen speaks at the 10:20 AM mark

The full overview of Bill 20 can be reviewed here.

You can track the progress for the Bill from the Legislature archive page.

More notes on items of interest from the Legislature can be reviewed through our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.