June 10, 2019 - Agenda (Special)

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ITEM

COUNCILLOR KELLY GREENE

1.

PROPOSED UBCM RESOLUTIONS 
(File Ref. No.) (REDMS No.)

GP-3

See Page GP-3 for staff memorandum

Designated Speaker:  Cllr. Kelly Greene

RECOMMENDATION

Statement of Disclosure Updates

(1)

Whereas professional regulatory bodies, such as CPABC, BC Law Society, APEGBC, and others, have conflict of interest and ethics rules for their members, under which appearance of conflict of interest is disallowed;

(2)

Whereas the public expects elected representatives to act to a professional standard of conduct;

(3)

And whereas the scope of decisions and responsibilities of an elected representative can be broad and encompass a variety of issues;

(4)

So be it resolved that the Statement of Disclosure for municipal nominees and elected representatives be updated to additionally include a spouse’s assets; a spouse’s liabilities; and real property, other than their primary residence, held singly or jointly by a spouse, child, brother, sister, mother or father. Further, within 60 days of being sworn in, to file a confidential financial disclosure statement to a non-partisan Municipal Conflict of Interest Commissioner.

Conflict of Interest Complaint Mechanism

(1)

Whereas professional regulatory bodies, such as CPABC, BC Law Society, APEGBC, and others, have conflict of interest and ethics rules for their members and enforce them through a complaints process;

(2)

Whereas the public expects elected representatives to be held to a professional standard of conduct;

(3)

And whereas the only remedy for a citizen complaint of a municipal elected person’s conflict of interest is through a judgement of the Supreme Court of British Columbia;

(4)

So be it resolved that the Province of British Columbia provide a mechanism to resolve and remedy conflict of interest complaints through a non-partisan Municipal Conflict of Interest Commissioner or expansion of the scope of powers of the BC Ombudsperson.

Conflict of Interest During Election Period

(1)

Whereas provincial and federal governments are dissolved during the writ period;

(2)

Whereas an elected representative could electioneer during the election period and be perceived to be acting for political gain;

(3)

Whereas an elected representative may not be re-elected, yet retain their position for a period of time after Election Day, effectively a “lame duck” candidate; and

(4)

Whereas municipal government staff effectively manage the city without a sitting Council for four consecutive weeks each year, at minimum;

(5)

So be it resolved that all municipal government meetings, except those provided for under the Emergency Program Act, be suspended during the election period and that the previous municipal government is dissolved on Election Day.

ADJOURNMENT