WHEREAS many provinces, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, PEI and New Brunswick, have four-year civic election terms, a term length which reflects the accepted period between elections in the provincial and federal contexts; AND WHEREAS the 2013 provincial election highlighted a number of issues with regard to local government elected officials running and being elected to the provincial legislature and the lack of legislative direction to avoid governance conflicts, expensive by-elections, long absences on council and boards and the double dipping of salaries; AND WHEREAS four-year election terms would likely be more productive for councils and staff and would save taxpayer money: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM ask the provincial government to increase the interval between civic elections from three years to four years, and that legislation be passed to do so in time for the 2014 election.
Ministry of Community, Sport Cultural Development Government is considering UBCMs request to change the civic election term length to four years beginning with the November 2014 general civic election. Government does understand that the length of term is an important piece of information for candidates in deciding whether to run for local office and will communicate the decision in early 2014.