Regional councils are, nominally, the governing bodies of the regions of Cameroon. As defined by the Constitution of Cameroon, the councils have control of cultural, economic, educational, health-related, social, and sport-related issues in the regions. The members of each council are delegates indirectly elected by the populace and traditional rulers selected by their peers. Each council is headed by a president, who is elected by the members from among their own ranks. Members serve five-year terms.
Each council is advised by members of parliament from the area and by an administrator appointed by the president of Cameroon. This individual acts at the president's personal representative and wields considerable power. The president of Cameroon reserves the right to disband any regional council he so chooses.
The regional councils were created by Cameroon's constitution of 1996 in response to agitation for a return to a federal system of government or increased decentralisation. However, the councils have yet to be established in reality, and the regions established by the constitution are still known as provinces and are headed by presidentially appointed governors.
A regional council (French:conseil régional) is the elected assembly of a region of France.
History
Regional councils were created by law on 5 July 1972. Originally they were simply consultative bodies consisting of the region's parliamentary representatives plus an equal number of members nominated by the departments and municipalities.
The decentralisation programme of 1982-1983 provided for direct election which began in 1986 and increased the powers of the councils.
Operation
The Assemblies elect their own Presidents who preside over the meetings and head the Regional Executive.
Electoral system
Before 2004
Between 1986 and 2004, regional councils were elected by closed listproportional representation. The Front National was frequently left with the balance of power as a result and this led to a change in the electoral law.
Since 2004
Since 2004 three quarters of the seats continue to be elected by proportional representation with each list having an equal number of male and female candidates. The other quarter are given to the list that received the most votes. In order to gain these top up seats, a list must have gained an absolute majority of the votes in the first round. If this has not been achieved a second round is held with each party that gained at least ten percent of the votes competing. The party that wins a plurality in this round gains the bonus seats. It is common in this round for lower ranking parties to withdraw in favour of parties they have entered into an alliance with.
Cape Breton Island (French:île du Cap-Breton—formerly Île Royale, Scottish Gaelic: Ceap Breatainn or Eilean Cheap Bhreatainn, Míkmaq: Únamakika, simply: Cape Breton) is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America. The name probably derives from Cap Breton near Bayonne, or to the name Breton, the Anglicized version of the French historical region, Bretagne.
Cape Breton Island is part of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada. The 10,311km2 (3,981sqmi) island accounts for 18.7% of the total area of Nova Scotia. Although physically separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by the Strait of Canso, it is artificially connected to mainland Nova Scotia by the 1,385m (4,544ft) long rock-fill Canso Causeway. The island is located east-northeast of the mainland with its northern and western coasts fronting on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; its western coast also forming the eastern limits of the Northumberland Strait. The eastern and southern coasts front the Atlantic Ocean; its eastern coast also forming the western limits of the Cabot Strait. Its landmass slopes upward from south to north, culminating in the highlands of its northern cape. One of the world's larger salt water lakes, Bras d'Or ("Arm of Gold" in French), dominates the centre of the island.
CBRM mayoral candidates debate hosted by CBC Cape Breton
CBC Cape Breton's Steve Sutherland moderates the 2024 mayoral debate for Cape Breton Regional Municipality candidates at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S.
Election Day is Saturday Oct. 19. For information on how to vote in CBRM visit www.cbrm.ns.ca/election
For more election coverage, visit www.cbc.ca/ns
published: 09 Oct 2024
Regional Council Meeting
published: 09 Mar 2022
CBRM Council Meeting - November 1, 2024
The integrated video/audio meeting control system was not in place for this meeting so vote tallies are not displayed.
The motion for audit and issue papers and the nomination of Eldon MacDonald as Deputy Mayor all passed unanimously.
CBC Cape Breton's Steve Sutherland moderates the 2024 mayoral debate for Cape Breton Regional Municipality candidates at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S.
Election Da...
CBC Cape Breton's Steve Sutherland moderates the 2024 mayoral debate for Cape Breton Regional Municipality candidates at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S.
Election Day is Saturday Oct. 19. For information on how to vote in CBRM visit www.cbrm.ns.ca/election
For more election coverage, visit www.cbc.ca/ns
CBC Cape Breton's Steve Sutherland moderates the 2024 mayoral debate for Cape Breton Regional Municipality candidates at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S.
Election Day is Saturday Oct. 19. For information on how to vote in CBRM visit www.cbrm.ns.ca/election
For more election coverage, visit www.cbc.ca/ns
The integrated video/audio meeting control system was not in place for this meeting so vote tallies are not displayed.
The motion for audit and issue papers an...
The integrated video/audio meeting control system was not in place for this meeting so vote tallies are not displayed.
The motion for audit and issue papers and the nomination of Eldon MacDonald as Deputy Mayor all passed unanimously.
The integrated video/audio meeting control system was not in place for this meeting so vote tallies are not displayed.
The motion for audit and issue papers and the nomination of Eldon MacDonald as Deputy Mayor all passed unanimously.
CBC Cape Breton's Steve Sutherland moderates the 2024 mayoral debate for Cape Breton Regional Municipality candidates at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S.
Election Day is Saturday Oct. 19. For information on how to vote in CBRM visit www.cbrm.ns.ca/election
For more election coverage, visit www.cbc.ca/ns
The integrated video/audio meeting control system was not in place for this meeting so vote tallies are not displayed.
The motion for audit and issue papers and the nomination of Eldon MacDonald as Deputy Mayor all passed unanimously.
The new mayor and council are planning big changes for the Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality, and one of those is at the top of the staff organizational chart now that chief administrative officer Marie Walsh is set to retire ... .
After a four-year term as the youngest member of Cape BretonRegional council, Cyril MacDonald has decided not to reoffer in the upcoming municipal election ... .
After a four-year term as the youngest member of Cape BretonRegional council, Cyril MacDonald has decided not to reoffer in the upcoming municipal election ... .
Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality had police on hand for Tuesday's council meeting where a tow truck bylaw was scheduled for second reading over concerns about a noisy protest by towing operators earlier this month ... .
Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality says its council has approved a new licensing bylaw for shared dwellings, also known as rooming houses or boarding houses ... .
Cape BretonRegionalMunicipalityMayorAmanda McDougall says a council vote officially puts an end to the Tower Road volunteer fire department, which gave up its certificate of registration in March due to a lack of properly trained firefighters ...
Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality's deal with a port developer is being questioned by a member of council, who says the contract calls for a container terminal, not offshore wind business ... .
Dangerous and unsightly properties are a big problem in Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality. Council says it doesn't have the money to clean them up, so it's asking the province to help foot the bill. Kyle Moore has the story ... .
Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality's council has approved capital and operating budgets that increase spending on infrastructure and operations by removing wastewater from taxes and having residents pay for sewer service through user fees ... .
Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality has implemented a freeze on discretionary spending and council has called for a workshop with staff next month to find savings to try to avoid a projected $271,000 deficit ... .
A capacity crowd attended Cape BretonRegionalMunicipality council chambers on Friday to discuss what to do with $5 million for affordable housing ... .
Members of Cape Breton regional council have ruled their mayor breached the municipality's code of conduct for elected officials. The decision follows a complaint made by CBRM councillor and former deputy mayor Earlene MacMullin ... .
