Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

Services

The attached PowerPoint has been provided to CivicInfoThe attached PowerPoint has been provided to CivicInfo BC BC by the Assistantby the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Local Government Deputy Minister for the Local Government Department of the Ministry ofDepartment of the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. Dale Wall made thisWomen's Services. Dale Wall made this presentation to the presentation to the Local Government Management Association AnnualLocal Government Management Association Annual Conference in Kamloops on June 6, 2002.Conference in Kamloops on June 6, 2002.

The Ministry is collecting commentsThe Ministry is collecting comments on theon the Community Community CharterCharter at “ at “CAWS.CharterFeedback@gems1.gov.bc.ca”. ”.

Comments will beComments will be reviewed anreviewed and d considered before the considered before the Community Charter is introduced in the Legislature asCommunity Charter is introduced in the Legislature as a Bill.a Bill.

Local Government Local Government Management Association of Management Association of

BC BC Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference

Community CharterCommunity Charter

June 5, 2002June 5, 2002

Dale Wall, ADMDale Wall, ADM

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s ServicesWomen’s Services

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

Services

Provincial Perspectives On Provincial Perspectives On The Community CharterThe Community Charter

Why a Charter?Why a Charter?

How was it developed?How was it developed?

Next stepsNext steps

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

Services

Why A Charter?Why A Charter?

Win-win for local government, provincial Win-win for local government, provincial government and citizens in three key government and citizens in three key areasareas

– local empowermentlocal empowerment - municipalities better - municipalities better able to serve the needs of their citizensable to serve the needs of their citizens

– local accountabilitylocal accountability - keeping local - keeping local decisions localdecisions local

– better intergovernmental relationsbetter intergovernmental relations - - working together for benefit of all citizensworking together for benefit of all citizens

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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How Was It Developed?How Was It Developed? Community Charter Council “built” the Community Charter Council “built” the

legislation bylegislation by

– reflecting the vision in legislative languagereflecting the vision in legislative language– determining what powers municipalities needed determining what powers municipalities needed

in order to fulfil the visionin order to fulfil the vision– determining where powers need to be determining where powers need to be

restricted in order to protect other interestsrestricted in order to protect other interests– establish public accountability measuresestablish public accountability measures– adding other essential componentsadding other essential components– addressing governmental relationsaddressing governmental relations

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Reflecting The Vision In Reflecting The Vision In Legislative LanguageLegislative Language

Vision wasVision was

– local empowermentlocal empowerment– local accountabilitylocal accountability– better intergovernmental relationsbetter intergovernmental relations

Expressed primarily through principles Expressed primarily through principles and purposes statementsand purposes statements

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Determining What Powers Determining What Powers Municipalities Need In Order To Municipalities Need In Order To

Fulfil The VisionFulfil The Vision Natural persons powers, service powers, Natural persons powers, service powers,

regulatory powersregulatory powers

Finance and revenue powersFinance and revenue powers

Other powers needed in order to Other powers needed in order to operate efficiently, example:operate efficiently, example:

– expropriationexpropriation– legal procedures and bylaw enforcementlegal procedures and bylaw enforcement

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Determining Where Powers Determining Where Powers Need To Be Restricted In Order Need To Be Restricted In Order

To Protect Other InterestsTo Protect Other Interests Implicit restrictions - some powers not granted Implicit restrictions - some powers not granted

or limited in other statues; examples:or limited in other statues; examples:

– no authority to regulate in relation to employment no authority to regulate in relation to employment standardsstandards

– police services subject to police services subject to Police ActPolice Act Explicit restrictions - powers granted are Explicit restrictions - powers granted are

subject to stated restrictions; examples:subject to stated restrictions; examples:

– concurrent regulatory authorityconcurrent regulatory authority– assistance to businessassistance to business– borrowing limitationsborrowing limitations

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Establishing Public Establishing Public Accountability MeasuresAccountability Measures

Emphasis on efficient, workable Emphasis on efficient, workable measuresmeasures

Emphasis on open, transparent Emphasis on open, transparent governmentgovernment

Greater reliance on disclosure, reporting Greater reliance on disclosure, reporting and dialogue with citizensand dialogue with citizens

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Adding Other Essential Adding Other Essential ComponentsComponents

What else needs to be added to provide What else needs to be added to provide consistency, clarity or ease of consistency, clarity or ease of understanding; examples:understanding; examples:

– roles of council membersroles of council members– bylaw adoption proceduresbylaw adoption procedures

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Addressing Government Addressing Government RelationsRelations

Consultation requirements and Consultation requirements and agreementsagreements

Dispute resolutionDispute resolution

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

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Next StepsNext Steps

Public consultation periodPublic consultation period

– Did we get the balance right?Did we get the balance right? Feedback will inform final productFeedback will inform final product

We want feedback from LGMA We want feedback from LGMA membershipmembership

– working groups working groups – email: email:

CAWS.CharterFeedback@gems1.gov.bc.caCAWS.CharterFeedback@gems1.gov.bc.ca

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s

Services