Whereas the primary purpose for provincial legislation requiring public notification should be to help municipalities notify residents based on what the metrics demonstrates and based on getting the best value for limited money; And whereas printed newspapers are no longer the only or most effective means of giving public notice and yet the Local Government Act and the Community Charter specifically require that all public notices be published in a print newspaper; And whereas with a new provincial government and new technologies this resolution is aimed at better notifying residents while ensuring money spent on notification is effective: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government be requested to review the Local Government Act and the Community Charter and consider modernizing the language so that newspapers, social media, web sites and other forms of online advertising are all given an equal footing for local governments to consider how to best inform their residents.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The current public notice provisions already provide a degree of flexibility for communities - newspaper is not limited to print and is broadly defined as a publication or local periodical that contains items of news and advertising. Additionally, alternative means can be used where it is not practical to publish in a newspaper, and there is explicit authority to provide additional notice including by the internet or other electronic means. While there is flexibility already in place, the Province recognizes that media environments are evolving in communities throughout B.C. Though local newspapers continue to reach residents in many communities, electronic and internet-based forms of communication have increasingly become an important source of local information. The Ministry is currently working to understand the specific challenges that local governments face with the current notice provisions and the policy implications of different options. If the Province determines that it is appropriate to amend current notice publication requirements, the amendments would need to carefully balance key local government system principles such as transparency and accountability - with a flexible approach that ensures notice publication requirements work for the broad range of local governments and communities in British Columbia. If the Province determines that it is appropriate to amend legislated notice publication requirements, the Province will consult with UBCM regarding such potential changes.