City Councillor Brian Skakun just doesn't get it.
But Councillor Shari Green does.
Councillor Green is on the right track with her recent request to change the oath of office for city councillors. Green says two issues must be addressed; one, councillors should swear an obligation to protect confidential information and two, not disclose personnel matters without the authorization of council. Green is asking for the changes to be in place prior to the provincial municipal elections this November.
Green's concern for confidentiality and the protection of personal information flows from the May 24 conviction of city councillor Brian Skakun. Skakun was found guilty of releasing a confidential city human resources report to the local CBC radio station in 2008.
Green's motion was approved by all members of council with the exception of Brian Skakun.
Skakun says the oath would restrict the ability of an elected official to disclose information in good faith. In response to Green's motion Skakun asks, "How do we deal with issues that an elected official feels need to be exposed?"
There's no question Skakun has become city council's loose cannon on the issue of disclosing restricted information. Following Skakun's guilty judgment, city council developed a series of motions to be presented for approval to the Union of B.C. Municipalities annual general meeting this September.
The motions call for amendments to the Community Charter which would disqualify elected officials who breached the oath of office or violated their responsibilities to protect confidentiality. Prince George City Council also wants to raise the maximum fines under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Currently the maximum fine is $2,000 and Skakun was fined $750 following his May conviction.
There is a further council motion to strengthen municipal best practices as it pertains to the conduct of elected officials. These motions were presented and approved by council last month.
As with Green's motion this week, the only opposition to the Community Charter changes came from councillor Skakun. On the amendments to the charter Skakun said, "What kind of checks and balances will be in place to ensure government transparency? There has to be a balance - council has to be able to disclose things when it is the public interest."
With one guilty conviction and two eight-to-one votes on council in an attempt to rein in Brian Skakun's one-man-war on confidential information, one has to ask, is everyone out of step but our Brian?
Brian Skakun seems convinced it's everyone else.
So who's right? The thousands of provincial municipal councillors, regional district directors and school trustees who deal with restricted information every day yet manage to keep it out of the press and themselves out of the courts, or Brian Skakun?
According to the May judgement - and the majority of Prince George City Council - it's not Brian Skakun.
What's so sad in all of this is that all of Brian Skakun's concerns are answered in the Community Charter.
Section 117 of the Charter allows confidential information to be released, if approved by council. A councillor would simply have to raise the issue and if council approved, the information would be released. Evidence from Skakun's trial indicated he did not make the request.
The same section also says if the city (read the taxpayer) suffers damages from the unauthorized release of confidential information the city may recover damages from the person for such loss or damages.
In spite of sitting on council for three terms Brian Skakun does not understand he is not some Charles Bronson Death Wish vigilante, rather he is one member of a nine-member city council.
Alone he has no authority.
If he wants to sneak personnel files out of a restricted meeting he will be charged, which he was. If he wants a more transparent process on city council, he should put his proposal on paper, take it to council and in a public meeting have it debated.
If Brian Skakun wants transparency, he should practice transparency. There is nothing open and honest about using a trusted position to leak confidential information.
Investigative
excellence pays off
Citizen reporter Gordon Hoekstra has accepted a position with the Vancouver Sun. Hoekstra's new job is a testament to his integrity and ability to get to the truth and get it right. He's a diligent investigative reporter, he works hard and he's smart.
B.C. MLA and senior cabinet minister Pat Bell best summed up Hoekstra's considerable reporting skills saying, "The thing about Gord is you knew that when he criticized you that you probably deserved it."
Hoekstra's the recipient of numerous journalism awards including two prestigious Websters. Congratulations Gord, I hate to see you go, but you'll make the Vancouver Sun a better newspaper.
