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In This Volume

  • 2 (1) The citizens of British Columbia are best served when, in their relationship, municipalities and the Provincial government
  • (a) acknowledge and respect the jurisdiction of each,
  • (b) work towards harmonization of Provincial and municipal enactments, policies and programs, and
  • (c) foster cooperative approaches to matters of mutual interest.
  • (2) The relationship between municipalities and the Provincial government is based on the following principles:
  • (a) the Provincial government respects municipal authority and municipalities respect Provincial authority;
  • (b) the Provincial government must not assign responsibilities to municipalities unless there is provision for resources required to fulfill the responsibilities;
  • (c) consultation is needed on matters of mutual interest, including consultation by the Provincial government on
    • (i) proposed changes to local government legislation,
    • (ii) proposed changes to revenue transfers to municipalities, and
    • (iii) proposed changes to Provincial programs that will have a significant impact in relation to matters that are within municipal authority;
  • (d) the Provincial government respects the varying needs and conditions of different municipalities in different areas of British Columbia;
  • (e) consideration of municipal interests is needed when the Provincial government participates in interprovincial, national or international discussions on matters that affect municipalities;
  • (f) the authority of municipalities is balanced by the responsibility of the Provincial government to consider the interests of the citizens of British Columbia generally;
  • (g) the Provincial government and municipalities should attempt to resolve conflicts between them by consultation, negotiation, facilitation and other forms of dispute resolution.

2003-26-2, effective January 1, 2004 (B.C. Reg. 423/2003).