Electronic local government meetings

Electronic meetings give flexibility to municipal councils and regional district boards to conduct business using telephone and video conferencing without compromising the rights of the public to access the decision-making process.

Regular, special and committee meetings may be held electronically, if authorized in the local government procedure bylaw and the legislated requirements are followed.

Municipal council, regional district board and committee members may participate in electronic council, board, committee or special meetings using these technologies when they are unable to attend meetings in-person. The local government procedure bylaw must authorize the use of electronic meetings and the local government must also follow the legislated rules.

Electronic meeting requirements

Councils and boards are required to:

• Include the process for electronic meetings in the local government procedure bylaw
• Provide notice of electronic meetings
• Provide the appropriate technology to give the public the opportunity to hear, or watch and hear, the participation of council or board meetings held electronically
• Provide a place for the public to attend to hear the proceedings of regular and special meetings held electronically

The choice of when to authorize electronic meetings (for example, how often and in what circumstances) is up to each council or board. Councils and boards may wish to allow for regular and special meetings to be held electronically in case of an emergency such as a natural disaster or a pandemic.

Electronic participation by a member

Usually, the schedules for regular municipal council and regional district board meetings, standing committee meetings and select committee meetings are set well in advance. When members are unable to attend a regular meeting, committee or special meeting in-person, it may be helpful if electronic participation is permitted in the procedure bylaw.

Electronic participation by the public

Councils and boards that choose to hold electronic meetings can decide how to allow for public participation. The public must be able to hear, or watch and hear meetings held electronically. A place must also be provided for regular and special meetings held electronically to ensure transparency and accessibility in respect of the meeting.

Councils and boards that hold in-person meetings may also choose to provide a way for the public to access the meeting electronically (for example, livestream or recording).

Logistics and costs

The logistics and associated costs of electronic meetings are an important consideration for local governments. Access to different forms of technology may impact the local government's ability to allow members and the public to participate electronically or hold electronic meetings. The council or board must also consider how to pay for the costs associated with electronic participation or electronic meetings (for example, the cost of new technology to support electronic meetings). It must also consider what back-up plans to put in place if technology fails (for example, to maintain quorum).

The technology for the electronic meeting must enable the meeting’s participants and the public to hear, or watch and hear, each other (except for closed parts of the meeting).

Procedure bylaw

If the municipal council or regional district board decides to adopt electronic meeting provisions, it must establish the process in its procedure bylaw. There are numerous considerations for a board or council in determining the local government's policy on electronic participation in meetings. For more information read the Procedure Bylaw Guide for B.C.’s Local Governments (PDF, 431KB).

 Learn more about procedure bylaw:

• Municipal Procedure Bylaw
• Regional District Procedure Bylaw

Public Notice

Municipalities and regional districts are required to post a notice of every council, board or special meeting, unless council or board members unanimously vote otherwise. Each notice must specify if the meeting is to be conducted electronically and, if so, must identify the place (if applicable) where the public may attend to hear, or watch and hear, the proceedings.