Representatives to this year’s SILGA conference in Kamloops are going to be asked to debate calls on issues of civility within local politics itself.

Two of the 46 resolutions up for debate relate to the protection of local politicians.

One of the resolutions — from Kamloops council — is asking the delegates to endorse a call to have local government politicians covered under WorksafeBC when it comes to harassment at the hands of their colleagues.

“Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Government of British Columbia amend the Workers Compensation Act to include local elected officials in the definition of ‘worker’ as defined in section 1 of that Act, thereby affording access to WorksafeBC’s existing policies, procedures, and safeguards against bullying, harassment, and other inappropriate treatment at the hands of a local elected official,” states the Kamloops resolution.

“And be it further resolved that the Government of British Columbia adopt statutory provisions to effectively safeguard municipal or regional district staff and other members of council or the board from the ethical misconduct of local elected officials, including, without limitation, repeated bullying, harassment, and inappropriate treatment, up to and including suspension or disqualification from participation in elected office.”

This comes amid numerous claims of harassment and allegations of slander and defamation involving the Mayor of Kamloops and other members of council.

“Local governments do have Codes of Conduct, but not everybody necessarily adheres to those,” noted Aimee Grice, Town Councillor from Oliver and the current President of SILGA.  “So I think what the community [Kamloops] is looking for is something with a little bit more teeth should these situations arise.”

She notes politicians are not covered under the current rules governing WorksafeBC.

“City staff would have those protections, as they are employees, but local government officials are not considered employees, so those protections are not in place,” notes Grice.

Meanwhile, a resolution from Osoyoos is calling for legislative changes to protect local politicians from personal and defamatory attacks by the public.

“Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the provincial and federal governments for legislative changes that address the issue of personal and defamatory attacks by members of the public on local government leaders,” states a portion of the resolution from Osoyoos. “And be it further resolved that these changes should aim to strengthen protections for local government leaders against unfounded, defamatory and malicious accusations by members of the public while also upholding principles of freedom of speech and transparency.”

Grice says local leaders in Osoyoos have been taking a lot of heat from their constituents.

“There is freedom of speech,” notes Grice.  “[But] social media is sort of the ‘wild west’ and people can just kind of say whatever they want.  It does affect people’s lives.”

Any resolution passed at SILGA gets bumped up to the Union of BC Municipalities for broader, provincial debate before ever getting passed on to the BC government.