CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. 2014 Library and Archiv

CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. 2014 Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Main entry under title: Candidate’s Guide: Local Government Elections in B.C. Available also on the internet. Running title: Local government elections candidate’s guide. Previously published: Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, 2014 ISBN 0-7726-5431-X  1. Local elections - British Columbia. 2. Election law - British Columbia. 3. Campaign funds - Law and legislation - British Columbia. 4. Political campaigns - Law and legislation - British Columbia. I. British Columbia. Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. II. Title: Local government elections candidate’s guide KEB478.5.E43C36 2005 324.711’07 C2005-960198-1 KF4483.E4C36 2005 MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. i Table of Contents Key Contacts iii  Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development iii Elections BC iii Ministry of Education iii Enquiry BC iv  Municipal and Regional District Information iv Other Resources v BC Laws v Elections Legislation v Educational Materials v Disclaimer vi New Elections Legislation – Shared Roles and Responsibilities 1 Introduction 2 Local Government Elections Generally 3 Voting Opportunities 3 General Voting Day 3 Advance Voting 3 Special Voting 3 Mail Ballot Voting 4 Key Participants 4 Electors 4 Candidates 5 Financial Agents 5 Third Party Sponsors 5 Elector Organizations 5 Volunteers 6 Key Election Administrators 6 Election Officials 6 Elections BC 6 About Being an Elected Official 7 Term of Office 7 Time Commitment 7 Remuneration 7 Obligation to Vote 7 Ongoing Financial Disclosure 8 Privacy 8 The Ethics of Elected Office 8  Conflict of Interest and Other Ethical Standards 8 Influence 9 Gifts 10 Confidentiality 10  Elected Officials and Local Government Staff 10 Qualifications 11 Who May Run for Office 11 Local Government Employees 11 Local Government Contractors 11 B.C. Public Service Employees 11 Federal Employees 12 Volunteers 12 Who May Not Run for Office 12 Nominations 14  Nomination Period and Declaration of Candidates 14 Who May Nominate 14 Endorsement by Elector Organization 14 Nomination Packages 15 Nomination Deposits 16 Challenge of Nomination 17 Withdrawing a Nomination 17 Election Campaigns 19 What are Election Campaigns? 19 Candidate Campaigns 19 Elector Organization Campaigns 19 Key Campaign Activities 20 Canvassing 21 Telephone Banks 21 Events 21 Advertising 21 Signs 22 Sponsorship Information 22 Third Party Advertising 22 Independence 22 Registration 23 Recording and Disclosing 23 Offences and Penalties 23 ii MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. Election Offences and Penalties 24 Offences 24 Vote-buying 24 Intimidation 24 Campaigning near a voting place 24 Providing or distributing false information 24 Contravening voting provisions 24 Penalties 24 Election Officials’ Authority 25 Elections BC Officials’ Authority 25 Candidate Representatives 26 Financial Agent 26 Official Agent 27 Scrutineers 27 Voting Opportunities 28 Voting Times 28 Counting Ballots 28 Conduct at Voting Places 28 Candidate Conduct 29 Scrutineer Conduct 29 After General Voting Day 30 Announcing Results 30 Judicial Recount 30 Breaking Ties 31 Invalid Election 31 Oath of Office 31 Taking Office 32 Campaign Financing 33  General Campaign Financing Requirements and Restrictions 33 Appointing a Financial Agent 33 Campaign Accounts 33  Campaign Contributions and Election Expenses 33 Recording and Disclosing 34 Disclosure Statements 34 Filing Requirements 34  Campaign Financing Offences and Penalties 34 Offences 34 Penalties 34 Automatic Penalties 35 Disqualification List 35 Glossary 36 Appendix A: Local Election Partner Roles and Responsibilities 47 Appendix B: Key Election Dates 49 Appendix C: Elections BC and Local Chief Election Officer Questions and Answers 50 Table of Contents MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. iii Key Contacts Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Contact the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development (Ministry) for answers to questions about the material contained in this guide. Ministry staff can also provide additional information about local elections administration in British Columbia. Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Governance and Structure Branch PO Box 9839 Stn. Prov. Govt. Victoria, BC V8W 9T1 Phone: 250 387-4020 Website: www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/contacts/department.htm Elections BC Contact Elections BC for answers to questions about local elections campaign financing and election advertising requirements. Elections BC In Victoria call: 250 387-5305 Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 855 952-0280 Email address: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca Website: www.elections.bc.ca Ministry of Education Contact the Ministry of Education for answers to questions about school trustee elections and the School Act. Ministry of Education Knowledge Management and Accountability Division PO Box 9146 Stn. Prov. Govt. Victoria, BC V8W 9H1 Phone: 250 356-1404 Email address: EDUC.Governance.Legislation@gov.bc.ca Website: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/legislation/trustee_election/welcome.htm iv MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. Enquiry BC Contact Enquiry BC for answers to questions about Provincial Government programs and services. Enquiry BC In Victoria call: 250 387-6121 In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421 Elsewhere in B.C. call: 1 800 663-7867 Outside B.C.: 604 660-2421 Email address: EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca Website: extranet.gov.bc.ca/forms/gov/contact/index.html Municipal and Regional District Information Contact CivicInfoBC for local government election statistics and results and local government mailing addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and websites. CivicInfoBC Phone: 250 383-4898 Email address: info@civicinfo.bc.ca Website: www.civicinfo.bc.ca/11.asp MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. v BC Laws BC Laws provides free public online access to the current laws of British Columbia. This unofficial current consolidation of B.C. Statutes and Regulations is updated continually as new and amended laws come into force. Electronic versions of the Local Government Act, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, the Vancouver Charter, the Community Charter, the School Act and the Offence Act are available online at: www.bclaws.ca NOTE: The Province of British Columbia does not warrant the accuracy or the completeness of the electronic version of the B.C. Statutes and Regulations available online at BC Laws. Elections Legislation Printed versions of local government elections legislation including the Local Government Act, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, the Vancouver Charter, the Community Charter, the School Act and the Offence Act are available at public libraries in communities throughout British Columbia. Printed versions of the Acts are also available from Crown Publications, Queens Printer for British Columbia at: Crown Publications Inc. 563 Superior Street Victoria, BC V8V 1T7 Phone: 250 387-6409 Fax: 250 387-1120 Toll Free: 1 800 663-6105 E-mail address: crownpub@gov.bc.ca Website: www.crownpub.bc.ca/default.aspx Educational Materials The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Elections BC, Union of B.C. Municipalities, Local Government Management Association, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, and the BC School Trustees Association collaborated to produce educational materials and guides for the 2014 general local election. The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development’s educational materials are available online at: www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/elections_home.htm • Elector Organization Guide to Local Government Elections in B.C. • Guide to Supporting a Candidate for Local Government Elections in B.C. •  Local Elections in British Columbia: What Every Candidate Needs to Know •  Voter’s Guide to Local Elections in B.C. Other Resources vi MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. Educational materials developed by Elections BC are available online at: www.elections.bc.ca • Guide to Local Elections Campaign Financing in B.C. • Third Party Sponsor Guide to Local Elections in B.C. Educational materials developed by the Ministry of Education are available online at: www.bced.gov.bc.ca/legislation/trustee_election • School Trustee Election Procedures in British Columbia Educational materials developed by the BC School Trustees Association are available online at: www.bcsta.org Disclaimer The information contained in the Candidate’s Guide to Local Government Elections in B.C. (guide) is provided as general reference and while all attempts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the material – the guide is not a substitute for provincial legislation. Please refer directly to the latest consolidation of provincial statutes at BC Laws (www.bclaws.ca) for specific election-related provisions and requirements within the Local Government Act, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, the Vancouver Charter, the Community Charter, the School Act and the Offence Act. NOTE: The Candidate’s Guide to Local Government Elections in B.C. was prepared to help candidates understand the electoral process and legislation regarding local government elections in British Columbia. Each candidate must refer to the Local Government Act and its regulations, the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act and its regulations, the Vancouver Charter, the Community Charter, the School Act and the Offence Act for specific provisions related to local government elections. Terms in boldface font are further explained in the Glossary. Candidates in elections conducted by the City of Vancouver must refer to the Vancouver Charter and its regulations for specific provisions regarding the City of Vancouver elections. MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT – CANDIDATE’S GUIDE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS IN B.C. 1 The Local Elections Campaign Financing Act – enacted in 2014 – was created to enhance campaign financing rules and ensure greater accountability and transparency in local elections. The Local Elections Campaign Financing Act separates the rules that regulate election uploads/Management/ candidate-x27-s-guide.pdf

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