The high cost of getting voters to the polls for a by-election is prompting a Coquitlam city councillor to ask the provincial government to change the rules for mid-term campaigns.
On Monday, at the first regular meeting for the new city council, Coun. Brent Asmundson served a notice of motion to get Victoria to amend the Local Government Act - which governs the way B.C. municipalities run -that would give more "flexibility" when elected officials quit.
Last year's by-election that saw Coun. Neal Nicholson replace Fin Donnelly, now the NDP MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam, cost Coquitlam taxpayers $180,000.
In 2007, when Louella Hollington resigned and was replaced by Nicholson, the price was $250,000 (by comparision, the budget for last month's general election was $300,000).
"We've had two by-elections in the last two [terms] in Coquitlam. It has cost us almost half a million dollars out of our city coffers," Asmundson told The Tri-City News yesterday.
"Is there a better way of dealing with by-elections? Could there be a provincial fund that the local governments contribute to help cover costs of by-elections, or Elections BC cover all the costs?"
The start of the new term is the best time to deal with the issue, Asmundson argued, "so that we're getting ahead of any possibility of a by-election, if there is one."
A provincial by-election is expected to be called by Premier Christy Clark by the spring to replace Iain Black, who quit his MLA seat in Port Moody-Coquitlam in October to take a job with the Vancouver Board of Trade.
As well, a provincial election is tentatively scheduled for May 14, 2013 - a year-and-a-half before the next civic vote.
No Coquitlam councillors have said publicly they will seek provincial seats.
Asmundson suggested the by-election rules change could be made next year when Victoria is expected to implement task force recommendations for municipal elections related to campaign financing, earlier election dates and length of terms, among other things.
Asmundson's motion will be discussed by city council at its next regular meeting in January.
