The fired chief executive of the Nanaimo Economic Development Corp. is calling on citizens to demand information from city hall about its decision to split tourism from the corporation’s mandate — despite the municipality’s warning of legal action.
John Hankins received a letter from North Vancouver lawyer Adrienne Atherton on behalf of the city of Nanaimo stating: “Should you breach your duty of confidentiality or defame the NEDC or the city in any way, the city will seek legal recourse.”
Hankins was fired Tuesday after firing off a 3 1/2 page statement to news agencies, including the Times Colonist, criticizing council.
His statement was sent out on Monday, without prior approval from the corporation’s board of directors. As a result they fired him the next day.
Hankins, who joined the corporation as its CEO in January, is concerned about a city decision made in an Oct. 3, in-camera meeting. At that meeting, Nanaimo council decided to split off tourism marketing from the five-year-old, city-funded Nanaimo Economic Development Corp.
The move didn’t make sense to Hankins, who said the tourism sector has been extremely successful this year. Hankins claims the corporation launched major marketing campaigns and has vastly increased its following on social media.
On Thursday morning, Hankins sent out another missive to news agencies, this one urging Nanaimo residents to send emails to mayor and council seeking the release of information on the in-camera meeting of council.
He is seeking the rationale behind that decision to set up a separate agency for tourism.
Hankins wants Nanaimo residents to ask that minutes of the in-camera meeting be released this week.
His questions include what information was presented to council members at the in-camera meeting, who was there and were any other motions made and if so, who made them and why?
“The last I looked, I believe we live in a democracy and the council report to the citizens of our fair city,” Hankins said. “I am just asking for transparency.”
An earlier core services review cost $230,000 to vet the corporation’s operations and make recommendations. That review did not recommend that tourism be removed from the commission’s responsibility, Hankins said.
He added: “City staff please save our precious tax dollars by backing down on the use of expensive Vancouver-based lawyers to avoid answering a legitimate question.”
