A review of the role of the City of Vancouver’s Integrity Commissioner is recommending the city strengthen its code of conduct to establish its independence.
The recommendation comes out of a report prepared by Reece Harding of Young Anderson Barristers & Solicitors.
It stems from a request from Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC-majority council to have a third-party review the scope of the Integrity Commissioner’s work
ABC initially tried to suspend the Integrity Commissioner’s work last summer, until the review was completed.
‘Better structural protections’
About 24 interviews were conducted with council members, Integrity Commissioner Lisa Southern, city staff and others.
Through these interviews, several themes emerged.
One of which was whether the city’s code of conduct was providing the Integrity Commissioner with sufficient independence.
“It was felt by many that the Integrity Commissioner needed better structural protections from being removed from office in circumstances where, for example, one of her decisions was unpopular or controversial,” the report said.
Enhancing the office’s independence would, the report said, better allow her to perform her work without fear of political interference.
Recommendations
The report provided 10 recommendations, such as requesting the city amend its code of conduct, “to enhance the structural independence of the Integrity Commissioner to the greatest extent possible.”
Southern told CTV News, she’s appreciative of Harding’s work, which she thinks is important.
‘Accountability and integrity matter’
In an email to CTV News, Sim, said, “accountability and integrity matter, adding “the Integrity Commissioner herself raised concerns about the scope of her role in her annual report.”
The mayor also said he takes the report’s recommendations seriously
In 2023, Southern wrote in her annual review, “the scope of the integrity commissioner’s role in providing oversight of the conduct of council and advisory board members is not always clear.”
Opposition councillors weigh in
Independent Coun. Rebecca Bligh, a former member of ABC, said what stood out to her in the report, was that it did not find that some of the serious concerns raised by the mayor – that influenced this review – were unsubstantiated.
“I think the question then becomes: Did the mayor and the mayor’s office have an issue with the Integrity Commissioner’s office,” she said. “Or with the Integrity Commissioner personally?”
Green Party Coun. Pete Fry said the review’s findings confirmed what he already believed.
“I think it’s a validation of the role and function of the Integrity Commissioner’s office,” he said. “I think it appropriately highlights that there is a risk to political interference with this role if it’s not codified within the provincial legislation,” he said.
Province reviewing code of conduct
The report noted British Columbia remains one of the only, if not the only, jurisdiction in all of Canada to not have substantive provincial legislation around council codes of conduct.
Without the benefit of provincial legislation, the city has created a good code, but it can be improved, the report stated, concluding, without provincial legislation, it’s not possible for the city to create a fully independent office of the Integrity Commissioner.
Municipal Affairs Minister Ravi Kahlon, said the province is doing a review of code of conduct policies across B.C.
“The goal is to update that and ensure that all local governments are treating each other, their staff and the public in a very transparent and open way,” he said.
“I think that will strengthen our democracy in the times that we’re in.”
Paul Mochrie, the city manager, said council is currently reviewing the report and Harding’s recommendations.
“At such a time that council provides staff direction pertaining to any updates to the Code of Conduct in a forthcoming public Council meeting, staff will work to implement Council’s direction,” he added.
