LETTER – There are answers to the weaponization of code of conduct rules

Editor’s note: This letter, addressed to Paul Taylor, the director of communications for the Union of B.C. Municipalities, was sent this week by Ed Wood, the former mayor of Harrison Hot Springs. Wood, who resigned in June after protracted conflict within the council (he subsequently lost a by-election to fill a council seat that came open when a councillor ran for the vacated mayor’s job), emailed the letter to ArmchairMayor.ca today, Oct. 17, 2024. 

Having recently been mayor of a well known dysfunctional council I have seen the code of conduct rules weaponized and in fact are hurting good politicians, most importantly hurting the community, and good government.

We don’t need another level of government for code of conduct, not more bureaucracy, we simply need to give the electorate the tools to recall a member of council as per the below 2015 resolution of the UBCM.

The following is from your excerpt (all of which any adult should understand but there is clearly some that don’t):

Foundational Principles

The foundational principles are intended to guide the conduct of individual elected officials and the collective behaviour of the governing body (i.e., the municipal council or regional district board). Four principles underlie the cur[1rent framework in British Columbia:

• Integrity — Elected officials with integrity conduct themselves honestly and ethically. They are open and truthful in their dealings, protective of confidentiality, and work to avoid conflicts of interest and perceived conflicts.

• Accountability — Accountable officials accept responsibility for their own behaviour and for decisions they make as individuals. They accept the collective responsibility of the governing body for decisions made.

• Respect — Respect means valuing the perspectives, wishes and rights of others, including other elected officials, staff members and the public.

• Leadership and Collaboration — Elected officials need to demonstrate an ability to lead, listen to, and positively influence others. They need to come together to create or achieve collective goals. These principles are integrated with and reflected in other parts of the framework, including the oath of office, the legislated requirement to consider the adoption or updating of a code of conduct, and the model code of conduct.

Recall of Local Government Elected Officials | Union of BC Municipalities) 

Year 2015; (Resolution) Number B93; Sponsor(s) Telkwa

WHEREAS the recently extended term of office for local government elected officials in BC negatively affects the ability of the local electorate to vote for change in their local government;

AND WHEREAS there is a potential for local government elected officials to pursue activities that are not supported by, and not in the best interests of their constituents, potentially causing financial, social or operational harm in their communities:

Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia amend BCs Community Charter to include a mechanism enabling voters to recall their local government elected officials, whereby the signatures of more than 50 of registered municipal or ward voters would be required, with the petition being initiated no less than 18 months after the date the local government elected official was sworn in to office, following the same recall timeline currently being used by Elections BC for the recall of Members of the Legislative Assembly.

EDWARD WOOD