Petition: That Saanich Council end the annual allowance for councillors to spend on UDI events etc.
Petition · That Saanich Council end the annual allowance for council members to spend on UDI events. – Saanich Core, Canada · Change.org
Petition text:
We the signed, call on the Saanich Council to end the annual allowance of up to $500 for each member of council to spend if they so choose, on attending events of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) a lobbying group for development and real estate, and for other similar events.
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Background:
In January of 2019, Saanich Council unanimously voted to allow council members to spend up to $500 annually to attend events of the UDI, the the Chamber of Commerce and other similar events, if they so choose. This allowance to use taxpayer money for such events, has remained in place, unquestioned by the elected officials ever since in both the previous and the current term.
The Urban Development Institute (UDI) is registered on the BC Lobbyists Registry. The organization advances to government, the interests of its paying member organizations in development and real estate.
The UDI uses many methods to influence government officials including elected officials and staffers.
The UDI hosts events, at which government officials and staffers frequently attend. Government officials/employees should not be able to use taxpayer dollars to attend such events.
UDI events include, luncheons, seminars, panel discussions, and presentations.
Such events may include what the UDI deems educational in regard to urban matters, but which can also be seen as a form of indoctrination for those in attendance from government.
We the signed consider it grossly inappropriate that government officials and employees attend such events using taxpayer funds, and that such events can serve as an easy potential vehicle for undue influence on public officials and employees.
For more information, please contact Saanichpetition@mail.com
Note: It is unnecessary to donate any money to the petition, no matter what Change.org states, the money does not go to the petition, it goes to Change.org
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References:
“Introduction to undue influence on decision-making” (Transparency International)
“There are several ways through which interest groups, such as companies, professional groups or public interests groups, try to influence the decision-making process. Interest group influence, commonly known as lobbying, encompasses “any direct or indirect communication with public officials, political decision-makers or representatives for the purposes of influencing public decision-making carried out by or on behalf of any organised group[1]”.
Interest group influence is not a corrupt or illegitimate activity per se, but when opaque and disproportionate it may lead to undue influence, corruption and even state capture. Undue influence is a more subtle form of corruption as interest groups often make use of legal mechanisms to influence the decision-making process[2]. For instance, they may legally contribute to electoral campaigns; provide research and host receptions but expecting favourable decisions in exchange. Undue influence may also be achieved by promising decision-makers well-paid future jobs in exchange for support[3].
In certain contexts, disproportionate and unregulated influence by interest groups may also lead to state capture, which occurs when corruption is so systemic and infiltrated within the institutions of the state that private interests substitute themselves to the common good as main drivers of policy and regulation. When the state is captured, companies and individuals shape and affect the formulation of laws and regulations through illicit payments (for example, bribes to parliamentarians and illicit contributions during electoral campaigns, among others).”
https://knowledgehub.transparency.org/guide/topic-guide-on-undue-influence/5191
The UDI’s entry on the BC Lobbyists Registry:
(Note: Although there is a lobby registry for lobbying of the Provincial Government, no such lobby registry exists for Saanich at the Municipal level, making lobby activities far less transparent than they should be in an open democracy on the local level).
https://www.saanichnews.com/local-news/saanich-mayor-fred-haynes-wants-municipality-to-join-chamber-urban-development-institute/
https://www.saanichnews.com/business/saanich-applies-to-join-chamber-of-commerce
Document:
DISTRICT OF SAANICH
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
HELD AT THE SAANICH MUNICIPAL HALL, 770 VERNON AVENUE
MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 2019
“FUNDING FOR MEMBERSHIPS IN THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (UDI) AND THE GREATER VICTORIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (GVCC)
Notice of Motion from the December 10, 2018 Council meeting from Mayor Haynes requesting Council consider approving funding for Saanich to become members of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) and the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) and to budget amounts of $500 per annum per member of Council to attend additional professional development opportunities outside the current scope of the Council Remuneration and Expense Policy.
MOVED by Councillor Plant and Seconded by Councillor de Vries: “That
Council approve funding for Saanich to become members of the Urban
Development Institute (UDI) and the Greater Victoria Chamber of
Commerce.”
Council discussion ensued with the following comments: – Membership in the UDI and GVCC gives Council the opportunity to network.
The Motion was then Put and CARRIED
MOVED by Councillor Plant and Seconded by Councillor de Vries: “That
Council budget amounts of $500 per annum per member of Council to
attend additional professional development opportunities outside the
current scope of the Council Remuneration and Expense Policy.”
CARRIED
MOVED by Councillor Mersereau and Seconded by Councillor Brice: “That the Council Remuneration and Expenses Policy be referred to staff to be
updated to include the additional professional development opportunities and the $500 per annum per member of Council.”
Council discussion ensued with the following comments: – Council members should share what they have learned through professional
development with other members of Council. – The $500 for professional development could be used for any type of program
but would not include travel expenses.
The Motion was then Put and CARRIED”
https://saanich.ca.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=saanich_b27391ad62247abb8299cda7aa01939a.pdf&view=1
Saanich bails on membership in developers’ organization – Victoria Times Colonist
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