B.C. MLAs banned from holding municipal office after bill passes

A new law passed on Tuesday bans B.C. MLAs from concurrently holding office in local governments, such as serving on a council, a school or park board or as a mayor. 

The Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act is expected to receive royal assent and become law on Thursday. 

Any MLAs will be removed from their local elected office as of that day. 

Misty Van Popta serves as both the Conservative MLA for Langley-Walnut Grove and a councillor for the Township of Langley. 

"The fact that this bill is effective immediately means that it's a targeted attack, and it's disappointing," said Van Popta on Wednesday. 

"As an MLA, I have been here the 14 hours a day just like everyone else. I'm clearly doing this job 100 per cent." 

Van Popta said in her municipality, being a councillor is a part-time position, and many of her co-councillors have separate full-time jobs. 

The bill was brought forward by Esquimalt-Colwood MLA Darlene Rotchford, supported by the NDP and Greens and opposed by the Conservatives. 

"MLAs should be focused on their work in the legislature, not splitting their time and focus while collecting two taxpayer-funded salaries," said Rotchford in a Wednesday news release. 

Rotchford says she resigned her seat on Esquimalt council when she became an MLA.

"I love the people in my community and ran for this full-time job to represent and support them."

Denis Pilon, a politics professor at York University, said there is already a law in place to prevent politicians from holding federal and provincial seats, so it is logical that the law should also apply to municipal positions. 

"You can't hold two positions at once and do justice to both. And you certainly can't do justice to the people who need the representation you're supposed to be providing," Pilon said.