A Vancouver city councillor is advocating for changes to the city’s code of conduct bylaw in order to enhance transparency and accountability in local government.
Coun. Pete Fry is leading the charge to strengthen public trust in City Hall by proposing significant reforms to Vancouver’s Code of Conduct bylaw. These reforms include implementing clearer investigative procedures, introducing new sanction provisions, and providing structural support for the city’s integrity commissioner, Lisa Southern.
Recently, Southern released a report following a year-long investigation into Mayor Ken Sim and several councillors, including Sarah Kirby-Yung, Lisa Dominato, and others, all of whom were part of the ABC Party at the time. The investigation stemmed from concerns raised by Fry regarding potential breaches of the code of conduct.
Southern’s report determined that the councillors had failed to adhere to the open meeting requirement, thereby compromising transparency and democratic processes within local government. The report emphasized the importance of public participation in policy development and decision-making to maintain trust in the system.
Fry clarified that the aim of the proposed amendments is not to penalize the implicated councillors retroactively but to focus on improving procedures for the future. He highlighted the need for the bylaw to address conflicts of interest, inappropriate behaviors, and violations of open-meeting principles effectively.
The motion put forth by Fry is scheduled for discussion at the upcoming city council meeting on Oct. 8, where he hopes to initiate a constructive dialogue on enhancing accountability and governance practices in Vancouver.