Taxpayer Art King is outraged that city council’s new code of ethics allows members to run for provincial or federal politics even though they signed an oath of office committing to serve Moose Jaw.
King appeared before city council at its July 11 meeting and spoke against Bylaw No. 5669, The Code of Ethical Conduct for Members of City Council.
This is not the first time King has spoken against the bylaw. He wrote a letter to the editor in October 2021 expressing his concerns about the proposed changes.
He noted then that it was “with sadness” that he “learned of the demise or future demise” of the ethics bylaw at that time. He wrote that of the suggested changes, the one about members taking an unpaid leave of absence to run for higher office bothered him the most.
That clause still bothered King, which prompted him to focus on it during his presentation to council.
“If councillors and mayors fill out nomination forms to run for council, they are aware of the duration, contract, remuneration and scope of that contract, which they include in the … bylaws concerning their ethics,” he said.
“And I’ll remind you that’s all signed by every member of council in their oath of office.”
While swearing their oath of office, members promise to be true, faithful and impartial to the best of their ability and knowledge and to perform the duties of their office well, King continued. However, they violate that oath if they run for other politics and win.
“I believe that is what actually happened in the City of Moose Jaw at the time when (previous) Mayor (Fraser) Tolmie handed in his resignation, handing the taxpayers of Moose Jaw a $60,000 to $80,000 byelection bill,” he remarked, adding Tolmie “stuck it to the city taxpayers of Moose Jaw” with a bill and left, which was “unspeakable.”
Clause 78 in the new ethics bylaw allows members to take an unpaid leave of absence to run for elected office of another government.
During the leave, they cannot receive confidential documents, can receive copies of public reports, do not have to return municipal resources but cannot use them for non-civic purposes, and will not be reimbursed for mileage or similar expenses.
King wondered what type of “pandora’s box” would be opened if this leave occurred before a municipal election.
He thought candidates could use advertising and press releases to gain an advantage, knowing that if they failed to win “the more prestigious employment and remuneration,” they could fall back on their secure council seat without penalty or being forced to compensate taxpayers.
“That’s a travesty. As a taxpayer of the City of Moose Jaw, I’m outraged because when we elect an elected official for a particular timeframe, he knows upfront how long it’s for, the remuneration that’s supplied and his duties that he is to perform,” King said.
King encouraged council to eliminate clause No. 78 since he did not think it showed respect to taxpayers. Moreover, he thought council members should always hold residents in high regard.
“I’m a bit irate because … this situation has gone on far too long,” King added.
Coun. Kim Robinson pointed out that clause 79 (b) of the new bylaw says the city will hire an integrity commissioner on an ad hoc basis — not full-time — if an issue arises. Meanwhile, he did not have any comments about clause 78 since it was not unique to Moose Jaw.
“This rule is common across municipalities across Saskatchewan. I know we don’t always have to follow that lead, but it is the norm,” he added.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, July 25.
