New rules for municipal elections in 2022

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• establishing a pre-campaign period that increases the length of time election advertising is regulated from 29 days to 89 days;
• limiting sponsorship contributions to $1,200 to match the provincial campaign contribution limit set in 2017;
• requiring elector organizations, also known as civic or local political parties, to register with Elections BC; and
• providing Elections BC with new investigative tools to support investigations and additional penalties to fine people who do not comply with the new campaign financing rules.

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Elector organizations will be banned from accepting non-campaign contributions to pay for operational expenses, such as office supplies and staff salaries, in non-election years. This means they will have to fund all expenses through campaign contributions.

“In 2017, one of the government’s first initiatives was landmark legislation to put an end to big money in politics. We are continuing our work to make sure people are at the heart of decision-making,”Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said. “The changes we are proposing reflect the feedback we heard coming out of the 2018 local government elections, and they will make elections at the local government level more transparent and equitable for everyone.”

Changes will apply to all local elections starting in 2022 and any byelections that follow, including elections for councillors, mayors, electoral area directors and school trustees. Any byelections already underway or scheduled before 2022 are not affected.

However, the new rules relating to sponsorship contribution limits will be made retroactively, effective from March 4, 2021, to prevent banned sponsorship contributions from being made between the time legislation is introduced and royal assent.

“These changes strengthen the rules governing local government election finance by increasing transparency,” Brian Frenkel, president, Union of BC Municipalities, said. “Local governments endorsed a call for these changes in 2020, and we appreciate the government’s response well in advance of the next local government general election.”

During B.C.’s local elections, held every four years, there are 1,660 elected positions voted on in 250 local government bodies in communities ranging in size from less than 200 people to more than 600,000 people.