VICTORIA—New Democrat MLA Michael Sather has proposed a Private Members’ Bill to help prevent conflict of interest at the local government level.

“Municipal governments make important decisions about local land use and development every day,” said Sather, NDP MLA for Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows. “Currently, mayors and members of council can vote to rezone a property to a higher value and subsequently participate in the sale of that property, thus realizing a financial benefit to themselves.

“For example, an active realtor on council can vote on approval of a new condo property. That councilor can subsequently participate in the sale of the rezoned property, thus gaining a financial benefit,” said Sather.

“The Campbell government has neglected to address this issue in existing conflict of interest legislation, prompting the Opposition to put forward a Private Members’ Bill to ensure that no councilor makes inappropriate financial gains from land use and development decisions,” said Sather.

Sather’s Bill, the Local Government Conflict of Interest Act, would prohibit a member of council from gaining financially from the sale of property the rezoning of which the councilor had voted on. This prohibition would apply to the councilor’s current tenure and for two years after leaving office. Contravention would disqualify the councilor from holding office for three years.

“This Bill will correct the conflict and give the public greater confidence in the conduct of local government,” said Sather.