Municipalities seek powers to deal with errant politicians
No other community should have to deal with that in the future, and we need the tools to be able to do that.” Bill Dingwall, Pitt Meadows councillor
WHISTLER — When Pitt Meadows councillor David Murray was charged and later jailed for sexual offences involving a teenager, the city had no way of removing him from his position.
It was an experience that Pitt Meadows Coun. Bill Dingwall said no other local government should have to endure.
“It can’t be just business as usual at council,” Dingwall said on Thursday at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Whistler. “We need to protect the image and reputation of our communities and of our council. We need to protect our employees that work within city halls around this province. We need to demonstrate leadership to survivors. We need to limit risk and liability to our cities, but most importantly we need to maintain the public trust and confidence of our citizens.”
That’s why he supported a pair of resolutions that ask the provincial government to change legislation to give municipalities the power to deal with elected officials who have been charged with or convicted of serious crimes. Both were endorsed by conference delegates.
“Our community lived through a very challenging experience,” said Dingwall. “No other community should have to deal with that in the future, and we need the tools to be able to do that.”
The first resolution was brought forward by the City of Terrace, and said elected officials charged with serious criminal offences should be required to take a paid leave of absence from office from the day Crown approves charges until the court process is complete. An official who is convicted of a crime would be disqualified from office.
Coun. Stacey Tyers, who sponsored the resolution, said it was modelled on the Senate of Canada’s policies on criminal charges and convictions.
“It’s not punitive to ensure that you have the opportunity to take care of your business while not interrupting business at the organization,” she said.
“I do believe if the electorate wants to elect someone who has a criminal record, that’s their right to do so. It’s when it happens while you’re already sitting that I’m concerned about because the electorate has no recourse.”
The second resolution was from Pitt Meadows, and asked that the province change legislation, which could include the Local Government Act, to require an elected official to go on unpaid leave immediately upon conviction until any appeals have been resolved, at which time the official would be disqualified from office.
“In my case, it was a horrific experience not to have the tools to deal with the conviction,” said Pitt Meadows mayor John Becker.
Vancouver Coun. Adriane Carr amended both resolutions to exclude acts of non-violent civil disobedience from the legislative change, pointing to recent protests against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion that saw sitting and aspiring politicians arrested.
“There are acts of civil disobedience that people, even politicians, take part in,” she said. “I don’t want to see those individuals barred from continuing in office if this resolution passes.”
A special resolution on cannabis excise tax revenue sharing between the province and local governments was also passed on Thursday. It calls for municipalities to receive 40 per cent of B.C.’s share of federal excise tax revenue — $125 million over the first two years of legalization — and equally split revenue above that amount.
The money would be disbursed to local governments on a per capita basis, and all municipalities would receive a minimum of $10,000, regardless of population. The province has said it is considering the UBCM’s position.