How much was George Stroumboulopoulos paid, for being Keynote Speaker for the 2024 UBCM Conference?

How much was George Stroumboulopoulos paid, for being Keynote Speaker for the 2024 UBCM Conference?

The Municipal Finance Authority (MFA), denies that it paid any money to George Stroumboulopoulos, despite that the MFA was listed as his sponsor as Keynote Speaker for the 2024 UBCM Conference

UBCM has denied that it is subject to Freedom of Information legislation despite an email from the OIPC claiming that they are subject to such legislation.

Screen capture of Speaking Fee ($35,000-$50,000 USD) for George Stromboulopoulos

Above: The BC Union of Municipalities “Keynote address” from 2024 sponsored by the Municipal Finance Authority of BC.

By Sasha Izard
Oct 24, 2025

Recently, I wrote an article:

After repeated failures by UBCM officials to provide minutes of their meetings when asked, and repeated denials over their availability; UBCM’s Executive Director has now provided minutes from previous years. The bare bone ‘minutes’ fail to even record how the individual elected officials (delegates) voted on resolutions. – CRD Watch Homepage

The article was part of a series of articles on UBCM, which can be accessed here.

Index of articles and other material regarding the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) – CRD Watch Homepage

In UBCM’s 2024 ‘minutes’ were included the following:

“Keynote address: George Stroumboulopoulos

At 9:25am Councillor Jenna Stoner, Chair of the Convention Committee, introduced Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Chair of the Municipal Finance Authority and thanked the Municipal Finance Authority for sponsoring the keynote speaker. Mayor Brodie addressed the delegates and introduced George Stroumboulopoulos. Councillor Mandewo thanked Mr. Stroumboulopoulos for his keynote address:

The Keynote Address was sponsored by the Municipal Finance Authority of BC.”

2024-Convention-Minutes.pdf
Archived version: Wayback Machine

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On Oct 21, 2025 I sent the following email to the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia:

Hello Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia,

I am submitting a Freedom of Information request for documents of all payments made to George Stroumboulopoulos.

Date range Jan 1, 2023 to October 21, 2025

Thank you,
Sasha Izard

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The MFA’s CEO Peter Urbanc responded:

Sasha,

I can confirm that we never made any payments to George Stroumboulopoulos. Please note that we do not normally respond to public enquiries. This is because we are a non-profit seeking entity who provides products and services to our Members (BC local governments), not BC residents directly.

You may be confusing the MFA with UBCM, who I believe may have invited Mr Stromboulopoulos as a speaker a while ago.

Peter

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Hello Municipal Finance Authority,

According to UBCM’s Minutes of 2024, the MFA sponsored George Strouboulopoulos for the keynote address:

2024-Convention-Minutes.pdf

From what I understand the Municipal Finance Authority is a public body, and as such is subject to FOIPPA.

I have submitted my FOI request and I expect it to be processed.

Thank you,
Sasha Izard

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Peter responded,

Sasha,

Again, I can confirm that MFA never made any payments to George
Stroumboulopoulos.

We do not have the information you are requesting (payments made to George Stroumboupoulos). The Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia is a proud, long-time sponsor of the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference as part of our commitment to education for elected officials and local government staff in our province.

Conference sponsorship funds are paid directly to UBCM. MFABC is typically recognized as a sponsor of the keynote address for the annual conference; however, arrangements regarding the selection of speaker and topic is the purview of UBCM, and related payments to speakers, if applicable, are made directly by their organization.

Peter

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I replied:

Hello MFA,

Thank you for your response.

I submit the following Freedom of Information request.

I would like to see the documents, showing all the money that the Municipal Finance Authority paid to UBCM in 2024.

Thank you,
Sasha

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Which brings up the elephant in the room question:

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) does not know if public bodies, the UBCM, and the Municipal Finance Authority, fall under Freedom of Information legislation. – CRD Watch Homepage

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On October 24, 2025 I wrote the following email to the Minister of Finance and Municipal Affairs:

Hello Christine Boyle Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs,

I am writing to ask you whether or not the Union of BC Municipalities, and the Municipal Finance Authority are subject to BC’s Freedom of Information legislation (FOIPPA).

Thank you,
Sasha Izard

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I also wrote an email the same day to the Ministry of Citizen Services,

Hello Ministry of Citizen’s Services Information Access Operations,

I am writing to ask you whether or not the Union of BC Municipalities, and the Municipal Finance Authority are subject to BC’s Freedom of Information legislation (FOIPPA).

You appear to be the correct branch of government to answer this question.

Thank you,
Sasha Izard

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