2. Strengthening local government in British Columbia
In mid-May, Bill 14 was introduced in the British Columbia Legislature, completing a reform process for local government in the province. Municipalities gain the status of being called local governments and Bill 14 includes provisions to clarify various issues relating to regional governments, land use planning and various other matters.
From an Ontario stand-point, what is remarkable about the British Columbian approach is that the provincial government seems ready and willing to treat local governments as independent entity entirely capable of exercising autonomous powers. Further information on this matter may be obtained from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities website: http://www.civicnet.gov.bc.ca/ or from the provincial government’s website http://www.marh.gov.bc.ca/LGPOLICY/MAR/bill14hi.html.