Restoration of the Business Vote

WHEREAS business owners are the foundation of community prosperity there is a requirement that the interest of this critical element of a vibrant community be represented in the democratic process; AND WHEREAS many business owners live outside their jurisdiction and cannot be part of the election process or vote in a referendum which may impact their business directly, and this gives them no voice a community in which they are a critical funder of essential services through their contribution to property tax and licence revenue that allow local government to provide critical services and this represents taxation without representation: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities work with the Province of BC to reinstate a corporate voting category so that non-resident business owners can exercise their democratic right to vote and participate in the electoral process in the community.