Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services The attached PowerPoint has been provided to CivicInfo BC by the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Local Government Department of the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. Dale Wall made this presentation to the Local Government Management Association Annual Conference in Kamloops on June 6, The Ministry is collecting comments on the Community Charter at Comments will be reviewed and considered before the Community Charter is introduced in the Legislature as a Bill.

Local Government Management Association of BC Annual Conference Community Charter June 5, 2002 Dale Wall, ADM Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services

Provincial Perspectives On The Community Charter n Why a Charter? n How was it developed? n Next steps

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Why A Charter? n Win-win for local government, provincial government and citizens in three key areas –local empowerment - municipalities better able to serve the needs of their citizens –local accountability - keeping local decisions local –better intergovernmental relations - working together for benefit of all citizens

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services How Was It Developed? n Community Charter Council “built” the legislation by –reflecting the vision in legislative language –determining what powers municipalities needed in order to fulfil the vision –determining where powers need to be restricted in order to protect other interests –establish public accountability measures –adding other essential components –addressing governmental relations

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Reflecting The Vision In Legislative Language n Vision was –local empowerment –local accountability –better intergovernmental relations n Expressed primarily through principles and purposes statements

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Determining What Powers Municipalities Need In Order To Fulfil The Vision n Natural persons powers, service powers, regulatory powers n Finance and revenue powers n Other powers needed in order to operate efficiently, example: –expropriation –legal procedures and bylaw enforcement

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Determining Where Powers Need To Be Restricted In Order To Protect Other Interests n Implicit restrictions - some powers not granted or limited in other statues; examples: –no authority to regulate in relation to employment standards –police services subject to Police Act n Explicit restrictions - powers granted are subject to stated restrictions; examples: –concurrent regulatory authority –assistance to business –borrowing limitations

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Establishing Public Accountability Measures n Emphasis on efficient, workable measures n Emphasis on open, transparent government n Greater reliance on disclosure, reporting and dialogue with citizens

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Adding Other Essential Components n What else needs to be added to provide consistency, clarity or ease of understanding; examples: –roles of council members –bylaw adoption procedures

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Addressing Government Relations n Consultation requirements and agreements n Dispute resolution

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services Next Steps n Public consultation period –Did we get the balance right? n Feedback will inform final product n We want feedback from LGMA membership –working groups –

Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services