It’s difficult to see how Nanaimo’s broken city council can be fixed without outside intervention. The province should step in on behalf of the citizens of Nanaimo.
The Harbour City was plagued by discord and dysfunction almost from the moment the current mayor and council were elected. Two years later, the situation has not improved.
In October 2015, Ted Swabey, who had worked for the city for 24 years before becoming its chief administrative officer in 2013, resigned to take a similar position in Maple Ridge. His parting remarks strongly hinted that discord and negativity were factors in his departure.
Mayor Bill McKay said in a Facebook posting that Swabey “has been begging council for months to stop attacking staff and treat them with a level of respect and professionalism. That hasn’t happened, nor do I believe it will with this or any other city manager. Some members of council simply aren’t wired that way.”
In March, seven of the eight councillors called for the McKay’s resignation, citing his attendance record and alleged bullying of Tracy Samra, the current CAO.
Over the past seven months, council asked staff to look into the mayor’s financial-disclosure reporting, business dealings and trade missions. The findings include the mayor allegedly entering into an agreement with Clipper Navigation for a passenger ferry without council approval and failing to report gifts accepted on a trade mission to China.
The police have become involved, and the RCMP says someone outside the Nanaimo detachment will look into a complaint about McKay.
In October, an angry councillor repeatedly urged the mayor to “bite me” in a confrontation that was caught on video and went viral.
This week, councillors received copies of a 2015 email from McKay to a mediator in which the mayor characterized some councillors as mentally ill and bullies.
McKay is calling for an investigation into the leaking of the confidential email. At least two councillors are threatening legal action.
The letter was given to councillors by longtime council-watcher Tim McGrath, who said he found the document on the windshield of his vehicle.
Did other members of the city council write similar letters to the mediator? What is the context of McKay’s email? We don’t know — the point is not about who is right or wrong, but what is right.
Clearly wrong, though, are the contention, the bickering and the lack of civility. The negativity is not merely unpleasant — it is counterproductive. Nanaimo continues to function, but the acrimony diverts attention and resources from the proper governance of the city.
Legal actions and investigations can become expensive, and that would be on top of the $50,000 mediator’s bill the city has already racked up trying to convince councillors and the mayor to get along.
What hope is there for Nanaimo residents who would like the infighting to stop? Thanks to the implementation of four-year local-government terms in 2014, voters can’t do much on their own until the next election, which is two long years away. B.C.’s recall legislation applies only to provincial politicians.
McKay said months ago he asked Community Minister Peter Fassbender to intervene, but Fassbender’s office says the council must collectively request help if the minister is to step in.
The province has not been shy about dealing with school boards that fail to toe the line. It should not hesitate to step in to assist a municipal council that is flailing about in a sea of dysfunction.
Municipalities are creatures of the province, the higher authority to turn to when when things go awry. Fassbender should stop worrying about hurting the feelings of local politicians and step in on behalf of the people.
