Premier Gordon Campbell wants rules governing local elections to be re-examined.

In October he established a task force to look into legislative changes to the electoral process for local government elections across B.C. The six-person task force made up of three MLAs and three members of the Union Of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) met on Thursday to collect input from elected officials or senior management personal from regional districts and municipalities across the province.

Issues discussed included: campaign finance, including contribution/spending disclosure and limits, and tax credits; enforcement processes and outcomes; role of the chief electoral officer (B.C.) in local government elections; term of office and whether or not to include a corporate vote.

The “corporate vote” refers to the ability of businesses to vote in local government elections. Area C Director Grace McGregor attended the workshop and reported that opinions varied on many of the issues but there was general agreement that more transparency was needed concerning campaign finances.

The one area that everyone agreed on was on the question of the corporate vote.

“There was an overwhelming no,” McGregor said. Many of those present cited problems that would be created because corporations can be from any country. Arguments against allowing a corporate vote include that it is undemocratic for a voter to have more than one vote, and that the right to vote should be an individual right, not one extended to legal entities like corporations. Premier Campbell has stated that recommendations are to be ready by May 30.