Conservatives push back on new B.C. law banning MLAs from holding local office [Video]

The BC Conservatives are pushing back on new legislation that bars sitting MLAs from simultaneously holding another elected office.

The NDP’s Eligibility to Hold Public Office Act passed last week with the support of the BC Greens, and will force BC Conservative MLAs Misty Van Popta and Korky Neufeld to resign, respectively, from positions as a Township of Langley city councillor and Abbotsford school trustee.

Van Popta told Global News she felt the NDP had targeted her with the legislation.

“It’s not something (my constituents) wanted. I heard loud and clear at the doors when I campaigned openly that I would temporarily hold both positions to not trigger a byelection, that I was willing to work extra hard for them to save taxpayer money,” she said.

“I was playing within the rules, I was playing within what was allowed and what was done for decades before me, this is not a new concept, an MLA holding a local position.”

The bill …