B.C.’s housing minister says he’s fed up with squabbling municipal councils, and will bring in changes to provincial oversight of dysfunctional local governments before voters go to the polls next in 2026.

Ravi Kahlon said he’s willing to listen on potential solutions, but will not go as far as to dismiss mayors and councillors deadlocked in petty squabbles that overwhelm the business of local government, as is occurring in communities like Kamloops.

“We've been hearing from many mayors, and councils and [Union of BC Municipalities] as well, on a better path forward, something that puts better, clear rules in place for local governments,” Kahlon said in an interview.

“And the biggest challenge we hear is, what happens when there's rules and people continuously break those rules knowingly?”

Kahlon’s willingness to move on the issue was first reported by B.C’s. ChartMaster General Justin McElroy over at CBC, who has the unenviable task of chronicling municipal dysfunction.

Mostly, it occurs in the form of mayors who can’t work with some or all of their municipal councillors.

That leads to turmoil, such as in the District of Sechelt, where an outside advisor recommended the mayor apologize to council and........

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