Whereas several community council, board, and hearing disruptions have been caused by uncivil and unprofessional conduct by a small number of elected officials, resulting in policy intervention, adjournments of meetings, and a movement toward digital instead of in-person meetings; And whereas the Community Charter and Local Government Act do not adequately provide local governments and the Province with the tools needed to respond effectively to the detrimental and paralyzing conduct of residents and elected officials who bully, harass and intimidate others despite the long history of local government openness and democratic values: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to take all steps necessary to convey the urgent need to create an effective task force to analyze the incivility and unruly behaviour problems and their causes, to consider best practices of other jurisdictions and to recommend legislation and enforcement mechanisms to address the crises of uncivil and paralytic behaviour that is impacting local government before the next local general election.
