Ian Paton will continue his dual role as Delta councillor and MLA for Delta South until January to avoid triggering a municipal by-election.
Municipal officials and Paton confirmed his status this week.
Mayor Lois Jackson said by not having a by-election to fill his council seat, it will save the municipality $250,000.
“Ian is a seasoned councillor. I really appreciate when local politicians do move into senior government,” said Jackson. “Ian represents the people very well. He knows the issues, he does his homework. We are used to multi-tasking, so I have total faith in Ian to handle both jobs.”
Paton said given his work commitments in Victoria, he will participate in Delta council meetings by conference call or Skype, but whenever possible he will attend meetings in person.
He said the mayor, his fellow councillors and Liberal Party leader Rich Coleman are all fully supportive of his decision to stay on in the municipal role.
“We did not take this decision lightly. Mayor Jackson and CAO George Harvie spoke with me on several occasions, asking me to stay on as a Delta councillor,” said Paton. “I’m as keen as mustard to be on Delta council. I get up every morning and my first hour or two is dealing with municipal issues. I’m more than capable of doing both jobs and doing both jobs very well.”
Paton said the decision to have dual roles in government is not without precedent. MLAs from both sides of the legislature have stayed on in their local government roles in the short-term upon being elected to provincial office. These MLAs include Lisa Beare and Jenny Kwan from the NDP and Liberals Doug Bing, Marvin Hunt and former Delta North MLA Scott Hamilton.
The next municipal election is October 2018.
