Just over a month after her acclimation to the District of North Saanich council, Joscelyn Barnard announced her resignation Thursday claiming manipulation, litigation threats and an B次元官网网址渦nhealthy democracy.B次元官网网址�
In an email statement, Barnard said she volunteered to take a councillor position B次元官网网址� her first term B次元官网网址� because of B次元官网网址渢he lack of any other community members willing to do the job.B次元官网网址�
Each of the six councillors in North Saanich were acclaimed in the Oct. 20 election due to a lack of candidates.
READ MORE:
In her resignation letter, Barnard called on Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; North Saanich Mayor Geoff Orr and the B.C. Office of the Ombudsperson to B次元官网网址渃onduct a third-party auditB次元官网网址� into what she called B次元官网网址渢he corporate culture and practices of the District.B次元官网网址�
Barnard said she listened to B次元官网网址渁 common theme of frustrationB次元官网网址� in conversations during the election campaign with community members who also expressed a lack of accountability during the election.
READ MORE:
B次元官网网址淲hat I found though was a system that can be manipulated to silence persistent councillors and suppress difficult information through the use of in-camera meetings, threats of publicly funded litigation, severance demands, and labour laws,B次元官网网址� she wrote.
B次元官网网址淭his is not a healthy democratic environment for staff, council, or the public and I will not be a part of it,B次元官网网址� said Barnard, calling for changes to the community charter to improve accountability and transparency.
READ MORE:
Reached by phone Thursday afternoon, Mayor Geoff Orr said he would need time to discuss the matter with staff before making public comment, having received BarnardB次元官网网址檚 resignation the same time media did.
B次元官网网址淚 just want to be mindful of some aspects of this,B次元官网网址� said Orr, just a month into his mayoral duties. B次元官网网址淭his is something I donB次元官网网址檛 think most mayors have dealt with, so weB次元官网网址檙e in a unique situation.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭here is a specific process that has to be followed on these matters,B次元官网网址� he added, alluding to the potential for a by-election.
The District of North Saanich council next meets Dec. 3.
Like us on and follow us on
