November’s civic elections will be for four-year terms

Posted on February 25, 2014 in Politics // 0 Comments

NEWS — Civic politicians will now have to go to the polls only once every four years between elections.

City council will have four years.

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes announced today that legislation will be introduced during the current legislative session to change local elections from a three-year to a four-year cycle beginning with this year’s elections in November.

That means City councils, school boards and regional districts elected in November will serve until October 2018.

The change to four-year terms was recommended by a government task force and supported by the Union of B.C. Municipalities and B.C. School Trustees Association.

The change in terms was one of 31 recommendations from the task force.

Kamloops politicians have been divided on the issue, some feeling four years is too long to commit, while others say it provides more time to plan and get things done.

At last September’s UBCM convention, 60 per cent of the delegates supported the change after considerable debate.