Lois Eaton talks about Transparency

Mayor’s Meeting March 11, 2020

Thank you for this opportunity to speak on something that is deeply troubling to me. I have brought it up before but felt the response was canned rather than a response to my specific concerns.
My topic is
The inherent requirement of transparency for good governance in a democracy.
Why is transparency in government so important in a democracy?

• When government officials are not transparent, they can avoid being held accountable to their public. 
• They can make self-serving decisions and keep hiding their hidden agendas.
• You may protest that all your decisions are fair and just and in the interest of most citizens now and into the future. 
• The problem I have as a citizen; I have no proof and much of the observable actions I see have ignored the fervent input of your citizen, leaving me in a position of doubt and distrust. 

Ignoring Citizen Input

• I will go back to the decision the council made to hire out to the RDN, the pick up of our waste. 
  • In the public survey citizens adamantly said no to that suggestion and even said they would tolerate raised taxes. 
  • This was ignored with promises there would be no increase in cost of service when the council passed these services over to the RDN.
  • Now we have increased cost of service in the need to purchase large containers, which we don’t know where to store, and we all have the old plastic containers to dispose of. I think we will grow potatoes in ours.
• Recently the promise for a group to walk the new landing strip trail that has been clear cut. 
  • The next day the trees were gone
  • Herons nesting nearby are compromised since the disruption
  • Although I have been told the town of Qualicum Beach has taken credit for finding and safeguarding these exquisite birds on your FB page, I can’t check as I don’t use FB. 
    • I hope such a manipulative massaging of your actions has not occurred.
  • The very serious legal difficulties of disturbing the heron nests at provincial level indicates one of the many reasons our council doing things in secrecy is bad for our community.
  • Many citizens knew of these nests and could have advised you. 
  • No need for a landing strip just a trail
  • There was already a trail on the other side of the road, which perhaps you did not know about. 
• You have a community that is actively working to mitigate and to create resilience against climate change.
  • Deals made in the dark like the RR development deal is an example of you ignoring citizens concerns about trees, groundwater retention, wetlands, wildlife, and citizen social and emotional health from nature etc. 
  • Build your affordable housing in East Village or on the tennis courts which I believe are being re-located. 
  • Distribute affordable housing throughout the town 
  • Don’t clear cut mature trees as it is unnecessary. 
  • There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

I ask myself why does our council need to hide its discussions and decisions from its citizens?

• Well, I know local officials have greater vested interests based on family, friendship and business ties, that can influence their decision making, in ways out of step with what the public wants.
• There is a close alliance between lack of transparency and corruption.
• When transparency, accountability and integrity are put at the heart of local governance systems, the risks of corruption is reduced. 

Nanaimo and Parksville are both opening their in-camera meetings

• Nanaimo’s in-camera meeting information is released on a monthly basis once “confidentiality obligations” are no longer applicable
  • From our QB council, I want to know the discussions and who voted how on issues of relevance to our whole town like land decisions.
  • Nanaimo councillors acknowledge the need for openness and transparency
• I checked the videos of campaign promises from the Civic Center. 
  • Everyone of our council members promised transparency and cooperation.
• I would like to see that happen. 
• I would like to be able to have confidence in our council to have practices of good governance including transparency 

I have not heard a logical explanation why the minutes, not a summary of topics, but the minutes of a meeting cannot be released, once the need for secrecy has passed. Items like land deals and appointments to committees. I want to know the discussions, and how each councillor voted. It will help shape how I vote in the next election. I like my vote to be informed.
This town is full of knowledge, experience and skills in our engaged citizens, who have come from all over Canada from every known occupation. Use this wealth of knowledge by allowing them to be informed and involved in real ways with council to build a better town and keep the reasons we all came and stayed.