Controversial ethics motion passed by Surrey council

A controversial motion that looks to prevent Surrey’s ethics commissioner from hearing new complaints in the months before this October’s municipal election has passed.

Monday night council debated a bylaw amendment to clarify rules of ethical conducts, with Mayor Doug McCallum insisting adjustments are part of an annual review of the code of conduct.

However, opposition councillors had raised concerns, suggesting the changes would effectively slash transparency at city hall.

The change would prevent any new complaints from being heard by the ethics commissioner for six months – where other municipalities such as Toronto only limit their investigations three months before a municipal election.

The motion passed 5 to 3.

Mayor Doug McCallum first pitched the idea in January. It was pulled days later after backlash from some councillors.

In withdrawing the controversial motion, McCallum said at the end of January that he was asking for a report to council on “how to ensure the Office of the Ethics Commissioner is not used for partisan purposes during the election period.”

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The language of the motion has now been tweaked after McCallum suggested the original proposal was the target of a misinformation campaign by his critics.

Councillor Linda Annis previously called the initial motion an “incredible disrespect for Surrey residents and any kind of transparency at city hall.”

“…Hiding from the ethics commissioner for the next nine months is no way to instill confidence in our community and its voters,” she said in a statement.

Councillor Brenda Locke also weighed in, saying it was clear that “citizens are being denied their ability to complain about the ethical behaviour of council.”

“To deny the residents that that access is just appalling. This is a vital function for democracy in our city,” Locke said.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum was bringing the motion back to council. Although he initially put it forward for debate in January, the bylaw amendment is now back before council after a corporate report.