B.C. Liberal cabinet minister doesn't rule out "representative government" at UBC
The minister of community and rural development, Bill Bennett, has opened the door to "greater local self-government" at UBC.
In a May 5 letter to Metro Vancouver chair Lois Jackson, Bennett wrote that the province "is prepared to explore the idea of greater local self-government in the area, but does not want to impose a solution on residents".
In his letter, he cited "significant current and projected population growth and the increasing complexity of managing the area without the benefit of a municipal government".
Electoral Area A, which includes the University Endowment Lands, is represented by one elected director, Maria Harris, on the Metro Vancouver board.
On April 29, the B.C. Liberal government introduced a bill in the legislature to transfer authority over the UBC area official community plan from Metro Vancouver to the provincial government.
"Residents of the many communities on the Point Grey peninsula would need to be involved in any discussion of whether governance change is necessary to carry out the civic functions of governance, planning and service delivery," Bennett wrote in his letter. "Any further action in this regard is going to require time and discussion."
Related story: UBC denies it's going solo.
Comments
4 Comments
glen p robbins
May 18, 2010 at 3:09pm
Any business conducted by Gordon Campbell and BC Liberals should not be considered valid -- including but not limited to deals with other provinces -- Campbell and Liberals are not legitimate -- future government will be convinced to rip up any business particularly that which relates to 'government' or 'self government'.
lyle humplik
May 18, 2010 at 7:14pm
I thought Margret McDimwit was in charge of bc edgimication
tim
May 19, 2010 at 10:39am
margaret mcdiarmid is in charge of k-12 education. moira stilwell is in charge of advanced education.
the province's action is completely undemocratic. there is absolutely no local government at ubc. the ubc board of governors is stacked with friends from the bc liberals yet they make huge decisions changing the shape of the campus.
Socrates
May 20, 2010 at 5:14pm
Oh thank you dear Minister Bill Bennett for opening the possibility of governance. I'm sure that the tens of thousands of residents at UBC will be excited by the possibility of one day being able to elect local government instead of having the will of King Stephen J. Toope imposed on them.