Resolutions Search
Parental Leave for Elected Officials
Status
Endorsed by the NCLGA Membership | Endorsed by the NCLGA Membership - Amended & Endorsed by the UBCM Membership
WHEREAS Section 125(7) of the Community Charter and Section 204(2) of the Local Government Act exempt elected officials from disqualification due to absences of 60 consecutive days or 4 consecutive regular scheduled board or council meetings, if the absence is due to illness or injury or is with the leave of the council or board, but does not provide an exemption for new parents;
AND WHEREAS it is recognized that it is important for new parents to have adequate time and energy to spend with their child:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NCLGA and UBCM lobby the provincial government to give its urgent attention to the matter of amending the Community Charter and Local Government Act, to include parental leave provisions that would grant elected officials who are new parents an exemption from being disqualified from office for absences of 60 consecutive days or 4 consecutive regular scheduled council or board meetings.
Actions
Meeting held December 6, 2022 with Hon. Minister Nathan Cullen, Mike Allison (Communications Director), Scott Andrews (Ministerial Advisor), Alanah Connie (Senior Public Affairs Officer), Tara Faganello (Assistant Deputy Minister), Quinn MacTavish (Executive Assistant), Okenge Yuma Morisho (Deputy Minister)
During discussion on Resolution R12, the following comments were offered:
We have heard from local governments on this. The overarching challenge is that local elected officials are not staff, so opening it up for this is problematic. We have found that individually, local governments can bring in their own bylaw procedures around meetings and parental leave.
We hear your point about having many rules for many communities. This has happened in other cases; things we would normally see in a workplace do not extend to those on Council. When the Community Charter was passed and went into law, modern technology, et cetera, was not considered and did not keep pace. It is important to attract people who have young families. We are happy to be allies in this.
Response by email from Tara Faganello, Assistant Deputy Minister, as follow up:
As discussed in the meeting, given the complexities of establishing provincial minimum entitlements for parental leave for local elected officials, and the existing authority of local governments to determine their own policies, the province is currently not considering establishing statutory minimum entitlements for parental leave for EOs. However, in recent years, a number of local governments, including, Squamish, Saanich, and Mission have adopted policies to allow EOs to go on parental leave. In addition, CivicInfo BC is currently working on a depository where local governments can share best practices and parental leave policies. The depository will be available early in the new year 2023.