By Dominic Abassi

Community petition demands end to Nanaimo council conflict

Aug 8, 2017 | 6:19 PM

NANAIMO — An online petition has launched demanding Nanaimo’s beleaguered council and senior City staff put aside their differences and work together.

Launched by community activist Matt O’Donnell, the petition stated the continued “political power struggle” waged by mayor, council and the chief administrative officer has divided the community and negatively impacted their ability to get work done. It called on all parties to sign a code of conduct, commit to working in cooperation and refrain from public outbursts.

“We were sick and tired of seeing our elected officials in the news, pointing fingers at each other, accusing each other of basically everything and not holding themselves accountable to anything,” O’Donnell told NanaimoNewsNOW. “The people are fed up with the infighting and the personal squabbles at the taxpayers’ expense.”

O’Donnell said their initiative is a non-partisan approach, not intended to point fingers at any individual councillor or city employee.

“We’re just looking at the overall culture of city hall and how it is a toxic culture overall. There has been faults on both sides of the fence. I’m sure everybody at that council could do something differently or not contribute to these problems.” 

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The petition garnered 44 signatures by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday after being launched late Monday night. O’Donnell said if it is not acknowledged by council by 8 p.m. Aug. 14, things will escalate. “We’re not going to let this go. Either they need to work together or we as private citizens in the community will increase our pressure.”

Mayor Bill McKay said he was not surprised to see the petition hit his inbox. “I’ve been waiting for some time for the citizens to finally get so impatient they started taking matters into their own hands and I believe that’s what’s happening now. They’re tired of this behaviour and they want things to change.”

McKay said he would “absolutely” agree to the petition’s demands. He said the fact a movement like this has started reflects “very poorly” on himself and the rest of council, admitting he played a role in things getting to this point.

“However, I believe all of council has had a role to play. Cumulatively we end up where we are in a pretty big mess,” McKay said.

Coun. Gord Fuller said he appreciated citizens getting involved and voicing their opinions, however he doubted the petition could affect change.

“We swear an oath of office to the Community Charter before a judge. That’s the bottom line, that’s what we have to abide by,” Fuller said, adding there would be no mechanism for officially enforcing any of the demands laid out in O’Donnell’s petition.

“I’m sure there’s some people on council that will get behind this 100 per cent. Likely their reason for doing so is pandering for votes,” Fuller said. “Yes there’s stuff happening, but people need to look at why this stuff is happening, who is making this stuff happen.”

In 2014, Council adopted an internal code of conduct designed to provide guidelines beyond those set out in the Community Charter. It was drafted following a governance review done by independent firm Watson and work with consultant Allison Habkirk and outlined protocols for council-staff relations. The code was to be signed annually by councillors to acknowledge their understanding of its contents.

A June 2016 staff report showed the forms had been signed by McKay and councillors Diane Brennan, Ian Thorpe, and Wendy Pratt.

Acting-CAO Victor Mema said codes of conduct are “best practices” for any board or council. “It’s a little bit more than the petition as I see it. The principle of it is what we should be talking out,” Mema said, noting a code of conduct provides a reference point for boards to self-regulate and enforce accountability.

“This (signing the code of conduct) is strictly voluntary. Those who wish to sign it may, without judgement,” coun. Bill Bestwick said during an Aug. 2015 meeting. “Those who choose not to sign it should not be judged either. Until judgement day, November 2018.”

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi