Canadians wouldn't want a resident of the U.S. running their country so why does the province of B.C. allow non-residents to run for city council and school trustee?
Section 66 of the Local Government Act requires a candidate for mayor, city council or a board of education to be a Canadian citizen, over the age of 18 years on voting day, and a B.C. resident for at least six months. But there's nothing in the Act that stops someone from running for, or holding, office in a city where they don't live.
Candidates who seek office in cities where they don't reside likely have their reasons. But should they be allowed to make decisions about things that won't affect them - such as when and how garbage is picked up, how high the property tax rate will rise and, in the case of school trustees, what items are trimmed from the school district budget?
Candidates who can't even vote for themselves on election day will have different priorities from their neighbours. It's time for the province to fix this oversight.
What do you think? Should civic politicians berequired to live in the citywhere they are seeking office? Vote in our online poll.
