Task Force Report

On May 28, 2010, the Task Force delivered its recommendations to the Province of B.C. and UBCM in the Report of the Local Government Elections Task Force (PDF 638KB).

The report makes 31 recommendations for improvements to local elections to: ensure accountability; enhance transparency; strengthen compliance and enforcement; increase accessibility; and expand education and advice.

Key recommendations include:

• Establish expense limits for all campaign participants (e.g. electors, elector organizations and third party advertisers)
• Regulate third party advertisers, requiring them to register and disclose expenses and contributions
• Ban anonymous contributions
• Require sponsorship information on all election advertising
• Shorten the time for filing campaign finance disclosure statements to 90 days post election
• Establish a central role for Elections BC in enforcement of campaign finance rules and in making campaign finance disclosure statements electronically accessible
• Establish a separate Act for campaign finance rules in local elections

The Task Force recommends a four-year term of office to provide local governments more time to plan and implement their vision, and to reduce the potential for voter fatigue over time. It also recommends no general contribution limits, given proposed expense limits and the need to ensure that all affected by local government decisions can participate in local elections discourse

While it also recommends no corporate vote, the Task Force does recommend that UBCM, the Province and business groups work together to recognize the concerns expressed to the Task Force and to encourage effective local ways to engage with business, further strong relationships and foster a competitive business climate.

Please note that the report (PDF 638KB) is 68 pages in length and is published electronically only on this website. Please print the report if you require a paper copy.