Mayor, Council and Senior Managers,
An ethical breach occurs when someone within a system or community makes an ethical choice that sets a standard by which others can make a similar decision. The danger of ethical breaches is that they are a fundamental change in the ethics of your organization.
Moral muteness occurs when people witness unethical behaviour and choose not to say anything. It can also occur when people communicate in ways that obscure their moral beliefs and commitments.
When we see others acting unethically, often the easiest thing to do is look the other way.
Let me remind our fine councillors and senior managers you are required to follow the following bylaws:
a. Code of Ethics Bylaw 4381 (1986)
b. Elected Members Code of Ethics Bylaw 5530 (2017)
Bylaw 4381
Whereas “public officials” and employees and members of Boards, Commissions, and Committees of the city of Moose Jaw have an obligation not merely to obey the law but to act in a manner that is so scrupulous their conduct will bare the closest public scrutiny.
And whereas the private interests of public officials, and employees and members of Boards, Commissioners and Committees of the city of Moose Jaw must not provide the potential for or the appearance of, an opportunity for benefit, wrongdoing, or unethical behaviour.
And whereas the council of Moose Jaw deems it desirable to adopt certain principles and guidelines for the conduct of its public officials and employees and members of its boards or commissions or committees.
5. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITY EMPLOYEES, OFFICIALS AND APPOINTED MEMBERS OF BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES
1. City officials and employees are agents for the public purpose and hold office for the benefit of the citizens. In that regard, they are to uphold and carry out the laws of the city, as well as applicable federal and provincial law, so as to foster respect for government. As public servants, they are to observe in their official act a high standard of morality and to discharge faithfully the duties of their office regardless of personal considerations and interests.
(Scrupulous definition is — having moral integrity: acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper.)
Councillors, in these trying times, I believe it’s important to remind you of your words:
Standards and Values (Words taken from Bylaw 5530, 2017)
4.1 Honesty
4.2. Objectivity
Members of council shall make decisions carefully, fairly and impartially.
4.3 Respect
Members of council-shall treat every person including other members of council, municipal employees and the public with dignity, understanding and respect.
Members of council shall not engage in discrimination, bullying, or harassment in their roles as council members.
4.4 Transparency and accountability
4.5. Confidentially
4.6. Leadership and Public Interest
4.7. Responsibility
Sadly, I don’t believe you. Let me share one other fact:
Cities Act
66.1(1) A council shall, by bylaw, adopt a code of ethics that applies to all members of the council.
(c) set out the process for dealing with contraventions of the code of ethics.
Councillors correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t reading and understanding bylaw 4381 a requirement of your swearing in as councillors?
1. There isn’t a “process included” for a citizen to file an ethic’s complaint?
2. That process has been missing since the creation of the bylaw 30 plus years ago.
3. The fact that this bylaw hasn’t seen any updates or improvements in that same 30 plus years flies in the face of council's responsibility to (update) bylaws a requirement of the Cities Act.
1. Let me hypothetically say I wanted to file an ethics complaint against say Rod Montgomery or Jim Puffalt; where’s the process in bylaw 4381?
2. The ethics complaint filed against members of council were handled by outside council and paid for by taxpayers; shouldn’t that be an option available to citizens?
Councillors, all the fine words are meaningless if you fail to allow citizens to hold you and administration accountable as required by the Cities Act.
-- Carter Currie
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
