The head of Integrity B.C. says it is time for B.C. Community Minister Peter Fassbender to step in to sort out divisions at Nanaimo City Hall.
Dermod Travis, Integrity B.C.’s executive director, said the degree of dysfunction in Nanaimo should be obvious to the minister.
“By letting things deteriorate even further, as he has, it has simply become more bitter,” Travis told the Times Colonist.
“Fassbender uses the Community Charter as a way to wash his hands of the affair, by pointing out that he can only become involved if asked by all council members, instead of asking his office to assist council members to find that unanimity so he can become formally involved,” Travis said.
“But at the end of the day, he has a responsibility to the residents of Nanaimo as minister. He needs to find the way to exercise that responsibility rather than standing on the sidelines pointing to the requirements of the Community Charter.”
The nine-member Nanaimo city council is in turmoil as members square off in a variety of feuds. Like all municipalities in B.C., council members were elected in 2014 for four-year terms, meaning this group is only about halfway through its term.
Blow-ups include:
• In March, seven of the eight councillors called for McKay to resign, alleging he bullied a staff member. He refused.
• In October, Coun. Gord Fuller told the mayor to “bite me” during a heated meeting.
• In November, the municipality asked RCMP to investigate complaints around the mayor, such as financial disclosure and trade missions. McKay denies that there is any substance to these concerns. An RCMP official said Thursday that there is no new information on the matter. McKay said he has not been contacted by the police.
• Also in November, a citizen released a confidential email written by McKay in 2015 to an outside conflict resolution mediator, which includes descriptions of some councillors as being bullies and mentally ill.
• In the latest development, the municipality launched a lawsuit against the mayor alleging he released confidential information to a former administrative assistant who negotiated a settlement with Nanaimo.
• And a group of citizens, including one who released the email, filed a court petition last month to disqualify McKay as mayor.
Fassbender, a former mayor of Langley, said in December that Nanaimo council has to come to grips with the situation. Ministry staff are willing to help with advice and support, he said.
This week, the ministry said in a statement that it has no formal role in the conflict.
“Voters expect mayor and council to work co-operatively together in the best interests of their citizens,” the statement said. “When a local government finds itself unable to move forward, or in a situation where specialized advice or guidance may be beneficial, elected officials are encouraged to obtain appropriate, independent, professional assistance. Their objective should be to move towards resolution of the problem while endeavouring to retain the trust and confidence of the broader community.”
