Whereas one barrier to attracting a diversity of candidates to local government participation is the low compensation received by local government elected officials; And whereas benefits typically available to public servants at all levels of government are not readily available to local government elected officials, further widening the gap between elected officials and other public servants or private sector employees: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM work with the Province of British Columbia to establish an accessible benefits program for local government elected officials to support attracting diverse local government candidates.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Government recognizes the importance of increasing the diversity of candidates participating in local elections and appreciates the leadership of the UBCM in coordinating the Group Benefits Plan which provides local elected officials with several benefits available to public servants. Eligibility for this program is determined by the insurance provider based on negotiations with the UBCM. The province does not have a role in this relationship or arrangement and supports the current approach where the UBCM works with insurance providers to negotiate the best possible arrangement for its members and local elected officials can make decisions about their participation in these programs based on their personal circumstances.