Debra Toporowski, the newly elected NDP MLA for the Cowichan Valley, has resigned her seat at Cowichan Tribes’ council table.
The announcement comes just days after Toporowski resigned from her seat on the Municipality of North Cowichan’s council.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Debra at the council table for many years,” said Cowichan Tribes Chief Cindy Daniels. “While my colleagues and I will miss Debra’s positive contributions, we wish her the very best in her new role as MLA for the Cowichan Valley. We know that she will do an excellent job representing her constituents and that her door will be open to Quw’utsun Mustimuhw (Cowichan citizens) to assist them with provincial services and responsibilities.”
Toporowski is a two-term elected councillor in North Cowichan and a five-time councillor of Cowichan Tribes, the first elected woman to hold positions on two councils at the same time.
She was elected as MLA for the Cowichan Valley in October’s provincial election.
North Cowichan intends to hold a byelection sometime in the new year to replace Toporowski, but the process is a little different at the governing table of the Cowichan Tribes.
Stephanie Atleo, Cowichan Tribes’ director of governance, said that following a successful ratification vote in 2023, the Cowichan Tribes’ Custom Election Law came into effect prior to the election of chief and council members in March, 2024.
She said in addition to updating and providing greater clarity around the selection of the First Nation’s leaders, implementing accountability measures, and increasing council terms to four years, the new law includes provisions to address council vacancies.
“If there is a vacancy, and the vacancy does not affect the ability of council to maintain quorum, the position can remain vacant, or at council’s discretion, the position can be offered to the candidate who received the next highest number of votes in the most recent election,” Atleo said.
“If the candidate accepts within seven days and their council eligibility is confirmed, that candidate shall fill the vacant position for the remainder of the original council term.”
Daniels said that as it is early in the current four-year term ending in 2028, Cowichan Tribes’ council has decided to offer the position to the candidate with the next highest number of votes in the 2024 election.
“The candidate has seven days to accept or decline this offer from council,” she said. “They will also be required to meet the eligibility requirements as stated in the Custom Election Law. Chief and council will provide a further update regarding filling this vacancy following the next meeting scheduled on Nov. 26.”
