Any Canadian citizen who is eligible to vote in the province of British Columbia is qualified to run for election as a Council member unless he or she:

• works for the Town of Qualicum Beach or the Regional District of Nanaimo (unless a leave of absence is taken to run and the person agrees to resign if elected);
• is a Federal public service employee (unless they have first requested and obtained prior permission from the Public Service Commission of Canada);
• is a Provincial Court, Supreme Court or Court of Appeal judge;
• has been convicted of an indictable offence and is in custody;
• is involuntarily committed to a psychiatric or other institution; OR
• has been disqualified under the Community Charter or Local Government Act or any law in force in British Columbia (e.g. guilty of an election offence, failing to file a campaign financing disclosure statement, etc.).

This Inspector of Municipalities maintains the List of Disqualified Candidates who are disqualified for not filing the required campaign financing disclosure documents within 150 days after the 2008 general local election. Click here for more information

Candidates do not need to live or own property in the Town; however, they must have resided in British Columbia for at least six consecutive months before filing nomination documents. For more information about becoming a candidate, pick up a nomination package at Town Hall (available August 31, 2011) or view the documents in the Town’s website (Candidate Information).

Don’t miss the guides published by the Province:

• Candidate’s Guide to Local Elections in BC
• Campaign Financing Standard Forms Booklet
• Guide to Supporting a Candidate
• Campaign Organizer and Elector Organization Guide

Candidates may file nomination papers with the Chief Election Officer at Town Hall during the Nomination Period starting at 9:00 am Tuesday, October 4, 2011 and ending at 4:00 pm Friday, October 14, 2011, excluding holidays. Those persons unable to deliver nominations in person may swear the documents before a commissioner for taking affidavits in BC and mail, deliver or fax documents to the attention of the Chief Election Officer by the deadline; however, if sent by facsimile, the CEO must receive the originals by 4:30 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011. From the time of receipt, the nomination documents are available to the public for inspection at Town Hall.

As nominations are received during the Nomination Period October 4 – 14, 2011, staff will update the Candidates’ Contact Information List [LINK] posted on the Town’s website, including information about All Candidates Meetings arranged by local groups. The Town does not hold, or have any involvement in, candidates’ meetings, but as a convenience for voters, if community and citizen groups wish to provide the date, time and location of their candidates’ meetings, the information will be included. Contact Town staff at 250.738.2196. Candidate information will also be posted at www.elections.civicinfo.bc.ca.

Contacts

Chief Election Officer
Trudy Coates, Corporate Administrator
Telephone: 250.738.2202
Voting Day Telephone: 250.927.5012
Email: tcoates@qualicumbeach.com

Deputy Chief Election Officer
Heather Svensen, Deputy Corporate Administrator
Office Hours Telephone: 250.738.2207
Voting Day Telephone: 250.927.5012
Email: hsvensen@qualicumbeach.com

The above information has been prepared for the convenience of the public and to provide assistance in understanding the local government election process and does not cover every aspect of local elections. It is not intended to be a complete and comprehensive document nor is it a substitution for the legislation contained in Part 3 of the Local Government Act or any other act. For detailed information on all aspects of voting or running for office in local government elections, refer to the Local Government Act or visit the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development website on local government elections here.