In a largely symbolic vote, City of North Vancouver council passed a motion Nov. 4 calling on future civic election candidates not to take campaign money from developers or unions.
While the vote carries no force of law, it was meant to head off more of the controversy that has come up repeatedly during the run-up to the 2014 municipal elections, said Coun. Guy Heywood, who introduced the motion.
The vote passed 4-3. "I hope that allows us to put this matter to rest," said Heywood, who selffinanced almcouncillors find the motion balanced between left and right, and consider it a pre-emptive strike ost all of his $9,000-campaign.
Since the 2011 municipal election, several public processes have resulted in calls for Mayor Darrell Mussatto and Coun. Linda Buchanan to recuse themselves from votes on projects spearheaded by developers who made sizable donations to their campaigns. Onni's parent company, RPMG holdings, and Pinnacle each donated $5,000 to Mussatto and Buchanan.
Under the law, council members must individually decide if they are in conflict of interest. Taking campaign donations does not require members to recuse themselves.
Reflecting on a year of political scandal in the councils of Montreal and Toronto and the senate in Ottawa, Coun. Rod Clark said the public is "fed up" with the country's politicians being in disrepute.
"The public is demanding this of us. It's come before us many times," he said. "People taking money from developers and then sitting here and voting, supposedly with clear conscience and no infringements, it's wrong. It's simply wrong and this motion addresses it," he said.
Coun. Don Bell joined in supporting the motion, but mainly on the grounds that it was a gesture towards the transparency councils strive for.
"I don't' necessarily think it means you're in the pockets (of developers). The problem is, it certainly can add to the appearance that such contributions may influence how candidates vote," he said.
"... We want to clearly reinforce the image that the decisions being made by council members are based on the evidence that's before them when a particular application comes forward."
After noting that she won a seat on council in the last three elections spending comparatively little money, Coun. Pam Bookham urged her colleagues to vote for the motion.
"Never have I sought, nor accepted, campaign contributions from unions or developers. In fact, 95 per cent of the money spent on my campaigns, I've spent myself in order to have an opportunity to be a voice at this table," she said. "Obviously, it's not necessary to take that money in order to be successful."
That applies even more to incumbents who have the advantage of name recognition and voting records to campaign on, she added.
"I urge all members of council to seriously consider whether or not they even want to have that appearance of conflict regardless of whether it is a legal conflict or not," she said.
But the three council members who received donations from the Canadian Union of Public Employees and those who received the most from developers voted against Heywood's motion on the grounds their votes on the council table are guided by the consciences alone.
"The implication here of course. .. is that votes at this council table are for sale by campaign donations and that, quite frankly is incorrect," said Coun. Craig Keating, arguing he has been completely transparent about accepting union and developer dollars in his campaign.
Keating rejected the comparisons to Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.
"Those things are problematic because there was an attempt to hide and not be transparent, and I've never attempted to hide anything I've done," he said.
He added that not everyone who'd like to run for council has the means to bankroll a campaign without contributions.
Mayor Darrell Mussatto, who spent $51,686.43 last election, outdoing his three mayoralty rivals who spent a combined $2,339.37, made a similar argument.
"I receive contributions and people think that there's some sort of return favour that's implied, and that just isn't the case," he said, adding that he has voted against development proposals from developers who helped finance earlier campaigns. "I think people believe in me and they know what I'm about. I think I've been very principled. I've been very respected and people support that."
Buchanan never spoke up during the debate.
Members of several community groups including North Van Urban Forum and City Voices urged council to pass the motion.
