FOR RELEASE     #08-258
October 23, 2008

WHITEHORSE – Community Services Minister Archie Lang tabled amendments to the Municipal Act today.

The amendments were drafted after extensive consultation in February and March of this year.

“I would like municipalities, the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC), and the public to know that Yukon has listened to them in considering amendments to the Municipal Act and that the amendments reflect cooperation between governments and with AYC,” Lang said.

The Act to Amend the Municipal Act includes amendments on 10 issues. Key amendments include:

• increasing the period of disqualification from office for municipal councillors who have approved illegal expenditures from 4 to 5 years;

• allowing a municipality to defer a referendum on a bylaw until a by-election or general election scheduled to take place within 6 months; and

• an amendment to allow municipalities to have an additional debt of 1% of assessed property values in order to offer their residents loan programs for the installation of domestic water wells, electrification, and telecommunications.

“The amendments to the Municipal Act will benefit municipalities, citizens, and individuals,” Lang said. “For example, returning officers will be able to vote in municipal elections, reporting requirements for municipalities will be clarified, and to save taxpayers’ money, a referendum may be deferred for up to six months if a general election or by-election is scheduled within that period.”

The act, once tabled, will follow a legislative process that could see the amendments come into effect on assent.

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