WHEREAS the constituents of an electoral area may be unrepresented on the regional board for several months in the event that a director dies, is disqualified, or resigns from office without having appointed an alternate director; AND WHEREAS the Local Government Act provides no penalties for electoral area directors who fail to appoint an alternate director: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to enact legislation permitting regional district boards to appoint an alternate director if the electoral area director has not done so within 60 days of such position becoming vacant.
MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES Although the Local Government Act does not set out a specific penalty for failing to appoint an alternative as required by section 7871, a civil action could be initiated against the director. Allowing a regional board to appoint an alternate if the director has not done so within 60 days, may be a reasonable alternative, particularly since a precedent has been established in section 7874. Therefore, the Ministry of Community Services will consult with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities about changing the legislation with regard to this matter.