The public's perception of relationships between councillors and property developers proved to be a hot topic for debate at a Colwood council meeting on Monday (Sept. 9).

In an attempt to "restore the public confidence and trust in city planning and decision-making processes", Coun. Kim Jordison brought to the table a proposed new policy that would ask any elected official that has received a monetary or non-monetary benefit from a developer or anyone closely associated, to immediately recuse themselves from any council matter of potential value to that project.

B次元官网网址淚've seen some shady things happen in the past, and again this past municipal election, that I think we as a council need to address,B次元官网网址� said Jordison in support of her proposed policy titled B次元官网网址楻estrictions on Gifts, Favours and DiscountsB次元官网网址�. B次元官网网址淚n the past, developers - some that donB次元官网网址檛 even live on Vancouver Island - have fully funded election campaigns for some, and it has a bad smell to it."

B次元官网网址淚 said it before and I'll say it again, something doesn't have to be illegal to be unethical.B次元官网网址�

At the meeting, Jordison clarified the policy wasnB次元官网网址檛 intended to focus entirely on councillorsB次元官网网址� relationships with developers, and should extend to any project brought forward to council.

But monetary benefits from developers soon became the focus of the debate again.

Referencing a B次元官网网址渕ajor decisionB次元官网网址� made at a council meeting in September 2022, which increased density of the Beachlands neighbourhood, known as Royal Beach at that time, Coun. Ian Ward said that an B次元官网网址渆lected official, who is no longer at this tableB次元官网网址�, had received B次元官网网址渋n excess of $2,400B次元官网网址� from B次元官网网址渒ey namesB次元官网网址� connected to the development.

Ward explained at the time of the meeting, the 2022 election campaign contributions had not been made public, so participants and the public were unaware of any connection between the elected official and the developers.

B次元官网网址淚t undermines public confidence in the decisions that are made at this table,B次元官网网址� said Ward.

B次元官网网址淭here can be a perception of impropriety, and I think this isn't about pointing fingers and blaming anybody,B次元官网网址� Ward said later, emphasizing that the crux of the issue is the publicB次元官网网址檚 perception of the relationship between developers and councillors.

B次元官网网址淚n many ways, it can also be about protecting the integrity of the people of the state, so that they can do their job without fear of negative perception in the community. If everything is totally above board - itB次元官网网址檚 clarified by a bylaw.B次元官网网址�

The proposed new policy was met with a mixed reaction from other councillors at the meeting.

Whilst supportive of restrictions targeting election campaign contributions, councillors questioned why the policy should extend to other B次元官网网址済iftsB次元官网网址� when there is already guidance in the Colwood community charter referencing restrictions on accepting gifts.

Coun. Misty Olsen went as far as to say JordisonB次元官网网址檚 proposal 'contravened' the community charter, pointing to guidance excluding gifts or personal benefits received through protocol or social obligations that normally accompany the role of a councillor.

B次元官网网址淭his motion essentially is telling me that there are events that we were socially obligated to attend within the community as part of our role as an elected official - weB次元官网网址檙e no longer able to do that,B次元官网网址� said Olsen.

Mayor Doug Kobayashi also highlighted the community charter, which says, B次元官网网址淎 council member must not, directly or indirectly, accept a fee, gift or personal benefit that is connected with the member's performance of the duties of office.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淐learly we're not supposed to be accepting gifts, with a few exceptions,B次元官网网址� added Coun. Dean Jantzen.

Instead of making a decision for or against JordisonB次元官网网址檚 proposed policy, all councillors voted in favour of referring the matter to council staff, who were asked to seek legal advice.

Staff will then draft a policy on election campaign contributions and their impact on council business, before bringing it back to councillors for debate.

B次元官网网址淚t's hard to legislate ethics, I think that's what we're trying to do here,B次元官网网址� said Coun. David Grove. B次元官网网址淎nd for me, this motion doesn't do it.B次元官网网址�