WHEREAS from time to time wholesale vacancies are caused at the local government level, be it at the municipal, regional district or school district levels, through ministerial intervention as has occurred at the Cowichan Valley School District 79; AND WHEREAS s. 37 of the Local Government Act and s. 36 of the School Act make provision for by-elections to be conducted as soon as reasonably possible after the vacancies occur and in accordance with the statutory requirements: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM petition the Province to issue a ministerial order for elections to be conducted in a local government where vacancies are caused by ministerial intervention so that the democratic rights of the citizens of the affected political jurisdiction are properly protected and served and the business of the local government may be appropriately exercised through its duly elected representatives.
Ministry of Education The Minister of Education will be requesting that Cabinet order an election to be held in the Cowichan Valley School District in November 2013. This approach will provide stability for the district throughout the current school year, but also supports an opportunity for Cowichan electors to elect a board, a year in advance of the next local government elections.