Pann eden ‘

UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA MUNICIPALITIES

“ . ". 204A — 654 BLACKFORD STREET. NEW WESTMINSTER. 8.¢.

COUNC

MAY 27 1974

PHONE 326-4447 AREA GODE 604

Mey 13, 1974.

TO: ALL MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND REGIONAL DISTRICT SCARIS
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Bear Sirs:

At their Annuel General meeting in Nanaimo, on Saturday, May 11th, repre
sentetives fran mast of the Municipal Counciis and Regional Gistrics Boards
on Vancouver Island averwhelmingly expressed their stxong objections to cer
tain sections cf Bill 85, The Fublic Officials and Employeee Disclosure Act,
by the passage of the attached resolu~ion.

Io have already been advised of the intentions of numerous Council md Board
membexs fron many parts of B.C. to vesign from their respective elected bedies
before the end of Mey unlees the Government amends this Bill to correc+ the in-
trusion into personal privacy which the Bill, in its presant forn, requires.

while I fully support the basic principle that public officials and employees
should..be required to cisclose any business relationships which might influence
theiz decision making powers in relation to their specivtic erea of xesponsibiisty
in public affairs, I am completely opposed to the particulaz provisicns of this
Bill which permit disclosure of onsets private business records which wall éin-
deed affect other persons and orgenizations Ter removed from any dixect influence
ain public matters.

In acdition, I strongly reject the Bill's provisions which requira cisclesures
to be Tiled locally and made available to anyone who mey ask for them. These
Provisions will permit disclosures to be given out without any stated reason o>
indeed without any requirement that the inquirer needs to have such information
in relation to public puxrpozes. :

pe enrens

In my view, these two aspects of the Bill are unsuppoxrtable and I Fave so informed
the Honourable the Attorney-General Guring a meeting held in his offise gn Friday,
May lOth. During that meeting, Mr. Macconald agreed to reconsider the Bill in

the light of my comments. I trust thet he snc she Government will zecognize my
belief thet legislation zequiring disclosures in the realm of conflict of intere
‘“2et will receive full support from all locel elected padies, but thet legislation

which infringes on the personal and private rights of elected and appointed offi-
cials, as private citizens, cannot be accented.

paneer ee ee ot

Io urge you to give this matter your immediate attention, and I ask you +o adcvise
the Ysnourable the Att zney-General, the Minister 3f Municipal Affairs and yous
sespective Member of the Legislative Assembly of your opposition to the two espects
Of the Bill which I have described, together with any cther spesific matters in
the Bill which you believe warrant the Govexnment's review and reconsideration.

ne ne |

it would be appreciated if you will keep me anformed cf your spinions and further
action on this metter, through the U.3.C.”. office.

Ycurs sincerely,

Lf Irate.

A.G. “MARKS, Mayor,
Fresident, Unisn of B.C.
“unicisalities.