New minister, renamed ministry, added portfolios
Every time there’s a new minister in charge of municipal affairs appointed in BC, it raises high hopes in residents for significant reform in local government.
It’s no different this time following the ministerial appointment of Ravi Kahlon, representing Delta North, to the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs. It was previously a standalone department named Municipal Affairs.
“It’s hoped the minister will be around long enough to tackle longstanding issues in local government,” says Stan Bartlett, vice-chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$. “But unfortunately, with a slim legislative majority, it’s quite likely there will be more ministerial changes in the near future.”
In addition, the province has added Brittny Anderson as Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities under the direction of the Office of the Premier.
It’s also moved UBCM relations and local government relationships to the intergovernmental relations secretariat in the Office of the Premier.
Most members of the public couldn’t name any minister in charge of municipal
affairs, what’s considered by the government as a junior ministry, let alone get the department name correct. In the last 25 years, the department of municipal affairs has now gone through nine name changes and even more ministers.
Politicians of all stripes seem to want to rename a hard-to-find department, underfund the operations, and continue to operate it as a junior portfolio where ministers frequently come-and-go.
The previous minster of municipal affairs Anne Kang was named in December 2022, and served less than two years in office (excluding the election period).
“Isn’t local government the bedrock of our society and shouldn’t it be treated accordingly?” asks Bartlett.
It’s hoped the new provincial government will care enough to get on with the job of reforming local government, otherwise the same old issues will just keep repeating themselves, he adds.
Tony Luck, MLA for Fraser-Nicola, has been appointed housing and municipal affairs critic in the Conservative shadow cabinet.
Premier Eby intends to save his ministerial mandate letters until January. Instead ministers get “appointment letters” that repeat, for everyone, the same priority issues of cost-of-living, housing affordability, health care and economic growth. But not municipal affairs, it seems.
DIG DEEPER
B.C. mayors cautious about changes to Municipal Affairs, Vancouver Sun, Nov. 21, 2024.
Inept municipal governance ignored during election, Grumpy Taxpayers, Oct. 14, 2024.