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Long-awaited bill to oust misbehaving councillors falls short, say advocates

The article discusses a new bill in British Columbia aimed at addressing misconduct by municipal councillors. Advocates and critics argue that while the bill introduces measures to remove councillors for inappropriate behavior, it falls short in several areas. The legislation allows for the removal of councillors by a two-thirds vote of the council or by a recall petition signed by 10% of the electorate, but it does not cover all forms of misconduct, particularly those not explicitly defined as criminal or corrupt. Critics like the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and IntegrityBC have expressed disappointment, noting that the bill does not adequately address issues like bullying, harassment, or other forms of non-criminal misconduct. There's also concern about the lack of an independent body to oversee these processes, potentially leading to political manipulation. The bill, while a step forward, is seen as not going far enough to ensure accountability and ethical behavior among elected officials.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-ca/politics/government/long-awaited-bill-to-oust-misbehaving-councillors-falls-short-say-advocates/ar-AA1vOsz6 ]