VICTORIA, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging all parties in B.C.’s legislature to support Bill M 202-2025, the Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act, which would disqualify Members of the Legislative Assembly from also holding a local elected office. 

“MLAs shouldn’t be double dipping by collecting two paycheques to represent the same taxpayer,” said Carson Binda, B.C. Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “If a school board trustee or city councillor decides to run for higher office, they should resign so they aren’t billing taxpayers twice to represent the same community.” 

The CTF began calling for this legislation in November 2024, after the recent provincial election saw 13 MLAs elected who already held a local elected office. Most of those MLAs resigned from their local positions, however, others decided to keep both jobs. 

That created a situation where politicians are collecting two paycheques for representing the same constituents at the municipal and provincial level. 

“Stopping politicians from double-billing taxpayers is the responsible thing to do,” Binda said. “By-elections need to be held efficiently and with respect for taxpayers.” 

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