Whereas there is currently no legislation in place that effectively safeguards local government staff or elected officials from bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of other local elected official; And whereas Worksafe BC does not include local elected officials as workers pursuant to the Workers Compensation Act, thus preventing municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from utilizing Worksafe BC policies, procedures, and safeguards against bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of a local elected official; And whereas local government codes of conduct are ineffective against a local elected official who chooses to blatantly ignore and disregard council or board resolutions, including protective measures put in place to safeguard local government staff and elected officials from that local elected official; And whereas the absence of statutory or common law authority to practically and effectively prevent a local elected official from continuing to bully, harass, and mistreat municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board can seriously jeopardize the mental health and safety of staff and other members of council or the board; And whereas due to the risk of continued and unconstrained bullying and harassment of staff at the hands of local elected officials, local governments and their taxpayers face significant legal exposure arising out of the unsafe workplaces in the form of costly investigations, wrongful termination claims based on constructive dismissal law, and increased legal costs: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Government of British Columbia amend the Workers Compensation Act to include local elected officials in the definition of worker as defined in section 1 of that Act, thereby affording access to Worksafe BCs existing policies, procedures, and safeguards against bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of a local elected official; And be it further resolved that the Government of British Columbia adopt statutory provisions to effectively safeguard municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from the ethical misconduct of local elected officials, including, without limitation, repeated bullying, harassment, and inappropriate treatment, up to and including suspension or disqualification from participation in elected office.
