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Briefly: September 30, 2011

No to watchdog Municipal leaders attending the annual UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) convention have endorsed online voting, but object to the province’s proposal for a municipal auditor general.

No to watchdog

Municipal leaders attending the annual UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) convention have endorsed online voting, but object to the province’s proposal for a municipal auditor general.

According to provincial representatives, a municipal auditor general would not make policy decisions but would provide a measure of transparency and accountability for civic taxpayers. But a majority of delegates at the conference adopted a resolution that calls the office unnecessary.

A majority of delegates also voted to ask the province to do the work required to have online voting ready for the civic elections in 2014. The debate leading up to the vote was polarized, with some delegates saying there would be no way to tell if a voter was being coerced by someone else in the room with them when they cast their ballot and that any system would be prone to hacking. Other delegates said something had to be done to improve voter turnout.

Mayor Stewart Alsgard did not attend the convention this year, but four City of Powell River councillors did, as well as Stan Westby, chief administrative officer. A number of Powell River Regional District directors and staff also attended the convention.