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Before You Vote: Know Who Decides What
10-15-2026
British Columbians will vote in two separate elections this October: local government and school board elections on October 17, followed by the provincial election on October 24.
While both elections affect our daily lives, the responsibilities of the people we elect are different.
Who decides whether a mosque can expand? Who is responsible for school policies, healthcare, policing or housing? And what should voters ask candidates before giving them their support?
Understanding these distinctions helps us make informed decisions and hold elected representatives accountable for promises they actually have the authority to fulfil.
This non-partisan guide explains who is responsible for what and offers practical questions voters can put to candidates.
Part 1: Who Decides What?
Q: What exactly am I voting for in these two elections?
A: On October 17, voters will choose local representatives, including mayors, municipal councillors and school trustees. Depending on where you live, the ballot may also include regional district directors or other positions. Vancouver voters also elect Park Board commissioners.
On October 24, voters will elect one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to represent their provincial electoral district. There are 93 electoral districts across British Columbia.
Q: Who approves a mosque expansion, a rezoning application or a development permit?
A: Generally, your municipality is responsible for local land-use and permitting decisions, working within provincial legislation. Depending on the application, decisions may involve municipal planning staff, public consultation and council approval. Not every permit requires a public hearing or council vote.
Q: Who is responsible for affordable housing?
A: Responsibility is shared.
Municipalities make many local zoning and permitting decisions. The provincial government establishes tenancy legislation, sets important housing requirements and supports housing programs. The federal government influences housing through financing, taxation, immigration policy and national programs.
When a candidate promises affordable housing, ask which part of the solution falls within their authority.
Q: Who is responsible for public schools and what students are taught?
A: The provincial government establishes the curriculum, provides major education funding and sets the legislative framework.
Elected school boards oversee local district policies, budgets, administration and accountability within that framework.
School trustees cannot independently rewrite the provincial curriculum, but they can influence how their districts manage policies, services and complaints.
Q: Who is responsible for healthcare?
A: Healthcare is primarily a provincial responsibility. The provincial government, health authorities and other healthcare bodies oversee services such as hospitals, public healthcare programs and access to care.
Municipal governments do not operate the provincial healthcare system.
Q: Who is responsible for policing, public safety and hate crimes?
A: Responsibilities are divided.
Municipal governments have important responsibilities for local policing arrangements, funding and community safety. Police investigate alleged crimes independently.
The Criminal Code is federal law. In B.C., Crown prosecutors independently assess charges and conduct prosecutions under applicable law.
If a candidate promises action against hate-motivated incidents, ask which measures their office can lawfully take.
Q: Where can someone report discrimination at work, school or in housing?
A: For matters covered by provincial human rights law, the BC Human Rights Tribunal considers complaints involving protected grounds such as religion, race, ancestry and place of origin.
Federally regulated employment and services may fall under federal human rights processes.
Not every unfair action is necessarily unlawful discrimination. Different complaints may require different procedures.
Q: Can a municipal council make decisions about Gaza, immigration or international affairs?
A: Municipal councils can pass resolutions expressing their views, including on humanitarian or international matters.
However, Canada’s foreign policy, immigration rules and international trade responsibilities belong primarily to the federal government.
A municipal resolution may communicate a position, but it does not change federal policy.
Q: Who is responsible for public transportation?
A: Public transit involves regional and provincial responsibilities, with municipal participation. In Metro Vancouver, TransLink plays the principal regional role. Elsewhere in the province, BC Transit and its local partners provide many transit services.
Candidates should explain which improvements they can directly influence.
Part 2: Questions to Ask Your Candidates
Election campaigns are an opportunity to seek specific commitments rather than accepting general assurances.
You do not need to ask every question. Choose two or three issues that matter most to you and ask candidates to explain what they would do, how they would fund it and when residents could expect results.
Questions for mayor and council candidates
1.What are your three highest priorities, and what measurable progress should residents expect after your first year?
2.What specific steps would you take to improve housing affordability, and which are within municipal authority?
3.When a mosque, temple, church or synagogue seeks a permit or rezoning, how would you ensure that the process is fair, transparent and consultative?
4.If a place of worship is threatened or attacked, how quickly would you engage with the affected community, and what practical support would you seek to provide?
5.How will residents, including those who disagree with you, be able to contact you outside election season?
6.How would you ensure that municipal bylaws governing public gatherings, demonstrations and religious activities are applied fairly and consistently?
7.How will you report publicly on your election commitments and their progress?
Questions for school trustee candidates
1.When a student or parent reports racism, bullying or discrimination, what complaint procedure should be followed, and how can families seek a review?
2.Should school districts publish information about complaints and their resolution while protecting students’ privacy?
3.How should school districts use SOGI 123 and other inclusion resources, and how should parents with differing perspectives be consulted?
4.What policies should govern student expression, demonstrations and political discussions in schools, and how should those policies be applied fairly?
5.How should schools accommodate religious practices such as prayer, fasting during Ramadan and absences for Eid?
6.Which of these matters can trustees address locally, and which require action from the provincial government?
Questions for provincial MLA candidates
1.What specific measures would you support to improve access to family doctors, emergency care and mental health services?
2.What would you do about rental affordability, housing costs and housing supply?
3.How would you improve provincial support for communities affected by hate-motivated incidents, including security assistance and access to justice?
4.What changes would you support to improve access to the BC Human Rights Tribunal and reduce unnecessary delays?
5.How would you help internationally trained professionals obtain recognition of their qualifications and work in their fields?
6.What approach would you take to public-school funding, discrimination complaints, religious accommodation and provincial inclusion policies?
7.Which commitments would require new legislation or additional funding, and how would you report on progress?
Part 3: How to Judge a Candidate’s Answer
Five questions to ask about any election promise
1.Authority: Does this office have the legal power to act?
2.Budget: What will the proposal cost, and who will pay?
3.Responsibility: Which department or organization will deliver it?
4.Timeline: When should residents expect action?
5.Accountability: How will the public know whether it worked?
A credible answer should identify a realistic action, a funding source where necessary, a timeline and a way to measure results.
Be cautious when a candidate promises something outside their jurisdiction, offers only broad condemnation of a problem, avoids a direct question or makes commitments without explaining how they could be achieved.
A vague answer does not automatically mean bad intentions. It is, however, a reason to seek clarification.
Part 4: How to Contact Candidates
Find the candidates: Visit your municipality’s official election website for local candidates. For provincial candidates, consult Elections BC at elections.bc.ca.
Ask directly: Contact candidates by email, telephone or through their campaigns. Attend an all-candidates meeting when possible.
Keep your questions focused: A specific question often produces a more useful answer than a long list of concerns.
Sample email:
Hello, I am a resident of [City/Riding] and will be voting in the upcoming election.
Before making my decision, I would appreciate your response to three questions:
1. What specific action would you take to address [issue]?
2. What would it cost, and how would it be funded?
3. When and how could residents measure the results?
Thank you for your time.
For a doorstep conversation:
“I’m a local voter. Before deciding, I’d like to know one thing: what specifically would you do about [issue] during your first year in office?”
Part 5: If You Experience Discrimination
If you or your family experience discrimination, bullying or an incident that may be motivated by hatred, document what happened, including dates, messages, witnesses and any available evidence.
For school concerns, request the applicable written school or district complaint policy and follow its escalation procedures.
For workplace or university concerns, seek advice through the appropriate institutional process, union, professional organization or legal service.
In British Columbia, many human rights complaints are subject to a one-year filing time limit. The applicable law, forum and deadlines depend on the circumstances.
For immediate danger, call 911. Other suspected criminal incidents can be reported to local police.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Conclusion: Your Vote Should Come With Expectations
Elections are not simply contests between candidates or political parties. They are opportunities for residents to decide who will make important decisions on their behalf.
No candidate can reasonably promise to solve every problem. But every candidate should be prepared to explain what they can do, what they cannot do, and how they intend to serve the public.
Whether you are concerned about healthcare, housing, education, religious freedom, discrimination or public safety, ask questions before voting and continue asking them after the election.
An informed vote is important. An engaged and informed community is even more powerful.
Alameen Post welcomes readers to share candidate responses and relevant community concerns at Editor@alameen.ca for editorial consideration.
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