B.C.'s provincial government is creating a mandatory code of conduct which would cover all municipal and regional district elected officials in the province. (Image Credit: File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

conduct standards

Provincewide code of conduct coming for B.C.’s elected officials

Apr 3, 2026 | 10:11 AM

NANAIMO — The B.C. government wants to implement a mandatory code of conduct all regional and municipal elected officials must adhere to.

They said in a release having a single provincial code of conduct will “bring clear complaint, investigation and sanctions processes and end the current patchwork of local codes.”

Conduct covered under this proposed legislation includes bullying or harassment in meetings, harassment of staff or disrespectful behaviour between elected officials, which can make it challenging to perform their duties as local governments.

It would provide a clear process for complaints, investigations, and sanctions for all municipalities and regional districts in B.C., according to the release.

A range of sanctions would be available, including a 90-day suspension without pay and reporting requirements for public transparency.

conduct standards

Provincewide code of conduct coming for B.C.'s elected officials

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The Province said this is in response to calls from advocates, including the B.C. ombudsperson, to make these changes to strengthen accountability, help prevent prolonged disputes within local governments and reduce legal costs.

Nanaimo mayor Leonard Krog said he welcomes this plan.

“Strong local governments are built on public trust, transparency and accountability…Clear standards, along with a fair and transparent process for complaints, investigations and sanctions, will help strengthen public confidence and support respectful, effective decision-making in local government.”

The work was done in partnership with the Union of B.C. Municipalities and the Local Government Management Association of B.C., as well as in consultation with Indigenous partners and local First Nations.

The Province said they expect this code of conduct for municipal and regional districts to be in place following the Oct. 17 municipal elections.

The government says approximately 68 per cent of all municipalities, and 81 per cent of all regional districts have already adopted a code of conduct, with 29 per cent of local governments having no enforcement mechanism in place for violations.

The legislation would not apply to school boards at this time, as all 60 boards of education already have trustee codes of conduct in place.

The B.C. government introduced Bill 17, Housing and Municipal Affairs Statutes (Code of Conduct) Amendment Act, to amend the Community Charter, Local Government Act, Vancouver Charter, Islands Trust Act, and the Cultus Lake Park Act on Thursday, April 2.

More information is available here on the government’s website.

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