Two Coquitlam city councillors will be sworn in as MLAs next week.
But it's unclear if their departures will mean municipal voters will head to the polls in the fall to fill their seats for the rest of the term.
On Monday, city council will consider a request made by councillors Linda Reimer, the BC Liberal MLA-elect for Port Moody-Coquitlam, and from Selina Robinson, who on Wednesday won the riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville for the BC NDP following a judicial recount.
Both politicians are asking city council for unpaid leaves of absence starting June 10 and ending Jan. 3, 2014, after which they plan to formally quit their civic jobs, as permitted under the Local Government Act. If city council approves their unusual requests, it would mean their seats would not be filled until the next general election, to be held in November 2014.
The councillors are citing the cost of a byelection - estimated at around $130,000 to $150,000 plus associated staff costs - as reasons for seeking unpaid leaves.
In a letter dated June 5 and sent to Mayor Richard Stewart and councillors (also forwarded it to The Tri-City News yesterday), Robinson wrote about her concerns of having two council seats vacant for 18 months and council's ability to maintain a quorum of four councillors plus the mayor.
"This can severely compromise council in its efficiency and its ability to make timely decisions," Robinson wrote, adding, "I am writing to offer Coquitlam council the opportunity to reflect on its needs for proper discussion, debate and decision-making along with council's commitment to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
"I will leave it to Coquitlam council, in its wisdom, to do what's best for the residents of Coquitlam in the area of appropriate civic representation," Robinson wrote.
Apart from the byelection costs, the city would save $53,836 per year, per councillor, in salaries and benefits - translating to around $170,500 until November 2014.
But if city council proceeds with a byelection - as is common practice under the Local Government Act for mid-term departures - a chief election officer would be appointed and a byelection would held within 80 days, likely in late October, said deputy city clerk Kerri Lore.
A byelection would be Coquitlam's third in as many terms: in 2010 and 2007, Coun. Neal Nicholson won in both campaigns, besting second-place finishers Terry O'Neill in the former and Linda Reimer in the latter.
Meanwhile, Robinson told The Tri-City News on Wednesday she was thrilled with the results following the judicial recount that placed her 41 votes over BC Liberal candidate Steve Kim.
Her victory means the swing riding of Coquitlam-Maillardville will stay NDP. It was previously held by the NDP's Diane Thorne (2005-'13); BC Liberal MLA Richard Stewart (2001-'05); and NDP stalwart John Cashore (1991-2001).
Yesterday, Kim said he would not appeal the results of the judicial recount (the deadline to do so was 4:30 p.m. Thursday). "At this point in time, I am looking to take in the experience," Kim said, noting he would continue with the C3 Korean Canadian Society and "working on building a relationship with the community."
"I think it's terrific that Selina is now an MLA," said Port Coquitlam NDP MLA Mike Farnworth, a veteran caucus member. "I'm really, really pleased with the results and I had no doubt that she would pull it off. She will be a strong representative in Victoria."
The new provincial cabinet under BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark will be sworn in on Monday, with BC Liberal MLAs sworn in on Tuesday and BC NDP MLAs on Wednesday.
