Penticton city council decided to go their own way after deciding a recall resolution proposed by staff didn’t go far enough.
Backed by a 3,000-signature petition, Elvena Slump and Helen Trevors asked council to renew a request to bring recall legislation to local politics. Two years ago, a recall resolution was endorsed by the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, but the province declined to act on the request.
More: City council endorsing recall in local politics
However, the resolution staff proposed council endorse for the Southern Interior Local Government Association —a step on the road to UBCM — didn’t live up to their desires. The resolution held out the possibility of recall, but only if endorsed by an integrity commissioner, which would provide advice regarding conflict of interest, codes of conduct and objectively resolve accusations or public complaints.
“We couldn’t put forward the same resolution, so we looked at this integrity commissioner resolution from last year,” said corporate officer Dana Schmidt. “We decided it would make sense if an independent integrity commissioner recommended a recall.”
Instead, council voted unanimously to endorse a resolution simply calling on the province to develop a recall process for local elected officials.
Schmidt admitted the staff resolution differed from council’s earlier discussion.
“UBCM already endorsed that exact resolution and the ministry said no thank you. We were looking for something they might agree to,” said Schmidt.
Using the same requirements as existing provincial recall legislation, which requires 40 per cent of voters in the electoral district to proceed, might have a different effect at the local level.
“There are certainly communities that require a lot of votes,” said Schmidt, explaining that in Penticton it would be about 13,000 votes. “There are also communities in B.C. where 100 voters could recall a council.
“That may be part of the reason why they are not keen to do it.”
Coun. Max Picton said including approval of an integrity commissioner met the intention of what was brought forward by our citizens.
“If what you are saying is it won’t go through, then we need to change something. I just don’t know if suggesting another hoop be added is the right way to go about it,” said Picton.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the overall concept of an integrity commissioner was positive, pointing out that there were few consequences for a local politician unless a misdeed led to financial loss or had a large effect on the community, there were few grounds where legal action could be taken.
“It is not something that their council is doing, something against integrity or against the law, they might not just agree with what they are doing,” said Coun. Helena Konanz, pointing out that recall is not limited to legal issues.
“With a four-year term, I do believe citizens have the right to recall,” said Coun. Campbell Watt, who suggested limiting the detail in the request, and leave the province to fill in the details.