SocietyPreview

Municipal

City of New Westminster Council

Governs New Westminster

Official website (newwestcity.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: newwestcity.ca, checked

At a glance

What it's for

A BC municipal council governs its municipality: it provides local services and makes bylaws on matters such as public places, buildings, business, animals, the natural environment, and land use and zoning. The law sets its purposes as good government, services for the community, stewardship of public assets and the community's economic, social and environmental well-being.

Community Charter, ss. 6, 7 and 8; Local Government Act, Part 14 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

What it can't do

A bylaw has no effect where it is inconsistent with a provincial law, and bylaws on public health, environmental protection and some other matters need a provincial regulation, agreement or approval. Council can act only within the municipality unless a law allows otherwise, and can charge only the taxes and fees the law expressly allows.

Community Charter, ss. 9, 10, 11 and 193 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

Who it answers to

Voters elect the mayor and councillors every four years, on the third Saturday in October. Long-term borrowing needs the approval of the province's Inspector of Municipalities and, in most cases, of the voters.

Local Government Act, s. 52; Community Charter, ss. 179 and 180 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

Where its money comes from

Mostly property value taxes that council sets by bylaw each year, plus parcel taxes, fees for services and for the use of municipal property, and grants and other revenue.

Community Charter, ss. 192, 194 and 197 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

Shares responsibility with

Works with its regional district, whose board includes directors appointed by council from among its members, and with the provincial government, which shares authority over public health and the environment.

Local Government Act, ss. 196 and 198; Community Charter, s. 9 · Applies to every BC municipal council (not Vancouver, which has its own charter)

Next vote

Later (2 more scheduled)

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

Report a problem

What it can do

  • Business licences

    Regulates businesses by bylaw and may require business licences (Community Charter ss.8(6), 15).

  • Buildings

    Regulates the construction, alteration and demolition of buildings and issues building permits (Community Charter s.8(3)(l)).

  • Zoning, land use and development

    Adopts the official community plan and zoning bylaws and issues development and development variance permits for land in the municipality (Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1, Part 14: ss.472, 479, 490, 498).

  • Garbage and recycling

    Provides and regulates garbage, recycling and organics collection as municipal services (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194).

  • Water, sewer and drainage

    Provides and regulates municipal water, sewer and drainage services and sets utility fees (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194).

  • Parks and recreation

    Provides and runs municipal parks, trails and recreation facilities as municipal services (Community Charter s.8(2)).

  • Roads and highways

    Owns and manages municipal roads, streets and sidewalks (highways), including closures, traffic and maintenance such as snow clearing (Community Charter ss.35-40).

  • Property tax

    Sets municipal property tax rates every year by bylaw after adopting its five-year financial plan, and may also charge parcel taxes and fees (Community Charter ss.165, 194, 197, 200).

  • Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals

    Regulates public places, trees, animals, nuisances, noise and other disturbances, and public health by bylaw, and enforces its bylaws with tickets and fines (Community Charter ss.8(3), 64; Part 8).

  • Services

    May provide any service the council considers necessary or desirable, directly or through another public authority or organization (Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26, s.8(2)).

Sourced · checked

Sources for what it can do

Report a problem

Sources

  • newwestcity.ca · checked Municipal council of City of New Westminster: the mayor and councillors elected under the Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) s.52; governs under the Community Charter (SBC 2003, c. 26). Website from the municipality. For: City of New Westminster Council
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1: Community Charter, ss. 6, 7 and 8; Local Government Act, Part 14. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Community Charter, ss. 6, 7 and 8; Local Government Act, Part 14. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Community Charter, ss. 9, 10, 11 and 193. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Local Government Act, s. 52; Community Charter, ss. 179 and 180. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1: Local Government Act, s. 52; Community Charter, ss. 179 and 180. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Community Charter, ss. 192, 194 and 197. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26: Local Government Act, ss. 196 and 198; Community Charter, s. 9. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1: Local Government Act, ss. 196 and 198; Community Charter, s. 9. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Business licences: Regulates businesses by bylaw and may require business licences (Community Charter ss.8(6), 15). For: Business licences
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Buildings: Regulates the construction, alteration and demolition of buildings and issues building permits (Community Charter s.8(3)(l)). For: Buildings
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Zoning, land use and development: Adopts the official community plan and zoning bylaws and issues development and development variance permits for land in the municipality (Local Government Act, RSBC 2015, c. 1, Part 14: ss.472, 479, 490, 498). For: Zoning, land use and development
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Garbage and recycling: Provides and regulates garbage, recycling and organics collection as municipal services (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194). For: Garbage and recycling
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Water, sewer and drainage: Provides and regulates municipal water, sewer and drainage services and sets utility fees (Community Charter ss.8(2), 8(3)(a), 194). For: Water, sewer and drainage
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Parks and recreation: Provides and runs municipal parks, trails and recreation facilities as municipal services (Community Charter s.8(2)). For: Parks and recreation
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Roads and highways: Owns and manages municipal roads, streets and sidewalks (highways), including closures, traffic and maintenance such as snow clearing (Community Charter ss.35-40). For: Roads and highways
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Property tax: Sets municipal property tax rates every year by bylaw after adopting its five-year financial plan, and may also charge parcel taxes and fees (Community Charter ss.165, 194, 197, 200). For: Property tax
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals: Regulates public places, trees, animals, nuisances, noise and other disturbances, and public health by bylaw, and enforces its bylaws with tickets and fines (Community Charter ss.8(3), 64; Part 8). For: Bylaws on public places, nuisances, noise and animals
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Services: May provide any service the council considers necessary or desirable, directly or through another public authority or organization (Community Charter, SBC 2003, c. 26, s.8(2)). For: Services
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked Mayor, City of New Westminster: 1 seat(s). Election rules: Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) ss.52-53; council size: Community Charter s.118 (or letters patent / bylaw). For: Mayor
  • newwestcity.ca · checked Councillor, City of New Westminster: 6 seat(s). New Westminster City Council comprises of one Mayor and six Councillors (newwestcity.ca); 2026 election: six (6) councillors. Election rules: Local Government Act (RSBC 2015, c. 1) ss.52-53; council size: Community Charter s.118 (or letters patent / bylaw). For: Councillor
  • newwestcity.ca · checked Mayor of City of New Westminster, listed as a current council member by the municipality (checked 2026-10-11). For: Patrick Johnstone as Mayor
  • newwestcity.ca · checked Councillor of City of New Westminster, listed as a current council member by the municipality (checked 2026-10-11). For: Daniel Fontaine as Councillor, Jaimie McEvoy as Councillor, Nadine Nakagawa as Councillor, Paul Minhas as Councillor, Ruby Campbell as Councillor, Tasha Henderson as Councillor
  • newwestcity.ca · checked City of New Westminster 2026 candidates page: individuals declared candidates (listed as on the ballot). General voting day: Local Government Act s.52 (third Saturday of October, every fourth year from 2014). For: General election, October 17, 2026
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked General voting day: Local Government Act s.52 (third Saturday of October, every fourth year from 2014). For: General election, October 17, 2026
  • bclaws.gov.bc.ca · checked 2030 general local election date from Local Government Act s.52(1)-(2) (third Saturday of October 2030 = 19 Oct 2030). For: General election, October 19, 2030

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