Whereas local government elected officials in British Columbia do not possess statutory immunity or freedom of speech protections comparable to those of Members of the Legislative Assembly or Parliament, leaving them personally vulnerable to civil liability and reprisal when raising ethical concerns or dissenting in good faith; And whereas the lack of robust, province-wide legislative safeguards creates a chilling effect on ethical debate and disproportionately exposes women, underrepresented groups, and new entrants to governance to personal, legal, and reputational risks: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia amend the Community Charter and the Local Government Act to establish qualified immunity and public interest disclosure whistleblower protections for local government elected officials acting in good faith; And be it further resolved that these safeguards be designed to protect officials from retaliation and ensure that ethical dissent is balanced with high standards of professional accountability.
