PRINCE GEORGE, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF)’s B.C. Director, Jordan Bateman, spoke to members of the North Central Local Government Management Association (NCLGMA) in Prince George today on “The Changing Expectations of Taxpayers.”

Bateman was invited by the NCLGMA to give voice to taxpayer concerns at their annual conference.

“Certainly we’ve seen many taxpayers demanding their elected leaders and municipal employees do more with less, and challenging many long-held practices in government,” said Bateman, who served two terms on a Lower Mainland council before joining the CTF in 2011. “They want government that is leaner, more responsive and more transparent to the people paying the bills.”

Bateman noted the CTF is looking for local government officials to embrace seven principles: be proactive with releasing information, be prudent with taxpayer dollars, be as streamlined as possible, be open with the taxpayers you’re serving, be humble with the public, be volunteers in the community, and be flexible in dealing with taxpayer issues.

“Across the province, there is growing frustration with government at all levels,” said Bateman. “Many taxpayers know they cannot afford to continue to let government grow year after year, and are pushing for ways to save money, focus services on the key priorities, and reduce bureaucracy and regulation.”

NCLGMA members include management staff at Prince George, Terrace, McBride, New Hazelton, Chetwynd, Burns Lake, Cariboo Regional District, Fort St. John, Valemount, Peace River Regional District, and other communities.