UBCM Delegates call for seperation between Local and Provincial General Elections

Courtesy of the Union of BC Municipalities:Union of B.C. Municipalities President (and Prince George City Councillor) Cori Ramsay defended the concept of distinct election periods for local and provincial elections earlier today. “With rampant speculation that a snap provincial election is imminent, it is incumbent on provincial leaders to uphold the principle of separate periods for local and provincial elections,” said Ramsay. “The campaign period for local elections is about to begin in 188 communities across the province. With over 3,500 candidates competing and with a wide range of issues facing B.C.’s communities, residents cannot afford to be distracted from local campaigns by a snap provincial election call.”The formal campaign period for the local government general election will get underway September 19, with a general vote to be held October 17. British Columbia has distinct statutory election dates to avoid simultaneous local and provincial election races. To prevent overlapping elections, the province has offset the four-year election cycles for the province and local governments. “Ramsay: At a time when B.C. is facing considerable economic and social uncertainty, overlapping elections would be a disservice to our citizens. One hopes that provincial parties would temper election rhetoric as local campaigns are set to begin, but the spiral of speculation continues. It is an opportune time to recall that distinct election periods are a foundational concept for elections in British Columbia that should not be discarded.”Even if the election date for a snap provincial election is October 24, 2026 or later, advance voting dates and advertising would overlap with the local government election period.