Newsletter February 5, 2021: Conflict of Interest Oak Bay Style
Conflict of interest definition: Oxford Dictionary: NOUN [conflict of interest]
British Columbia is reported to have one of the strictest Lobbyist laws in North America. There is a reason for this: lobbyists have access to Government decision makers and their primary objective is to influence public policy in favor of their employer’s Interests.
Oak Bay is a member of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) that is a powerful Canadian Lobbyist Association. The UDI website makes no bones about whose interests it represents.
Fact: If a new District zoning bylaw or a revision is proposed, the Urban Development Institute has been invited to assist the municipality with its drafting. Well-funded, it can provide legal expertise to suit its aims.
To this end the Urban Development Institute has no fewer than 11 municipal standing “liaison committees” in the Greater Vancouver area in many of the developer friendly and over-friendly Hot Spot cities. These include: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond. Coquitlam etc.
The function of these Committees, UDI explains is that “Liaison Committees administered solely, or jointly by UDI are to meet with their respective municipalities on a regular basis. These committees create a forum for dialogue between builders and municipal staff on issues related to policy and processing”. So it’s no wonder that………….
UDI Website Testimonial: Real Estate Analysis: “Excellent source for the industry and they (UDI) provide good networking opportunities to connect with those within and outside the industry.”
The District of Oak Bay’s Urban Development Institute representative is the Director of Building and Planning. He attends UDI meetings on behalf of the District. The District has no way of monitoring whom he associates with at the meetings, what the level of his participation is or with whom he connects for “good networking opportunities”
What is known, however, is: Almost exclusively UDI member consultants have been awarded the lucrative contracts by the District to provide Land Use Reports and Presentations. UDI Consultant and Staff Presentations have promoted and included UDI densification initiatives. If adopted, these initiatives would significantly benefit the Development and Real Estate Industry and change the face of Oak Bay.
It is obvious there is a disparity and disconnect between our Staff’s level of contact and input with the Development and Real Estate Industries and Special Interest Groups (e.g. UDI) versus the input and contact afforded residents. See Chart Appendix #1.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
It seems to us that Oak Bay’s placing its Director of Building and Planning in a position where he is directly involved with fellow UDI members in addressing the District’s land use is not a good idea.
Would he not welcome being excused from having to explain to UDI members, he often attends meetings with, that their proposed multi-development is not a good fit for Oak Bay. For example: the proposed development cannot meet the transition zone requirements to the adjoining single family area and/ or the massing is inappropriate.
There is plenty of non-biased, impartial, balanced development information (that includes the Public’s Interest) now on the internet that the Planning Department can obtain and unlike expensive consultants, it is cost-free.
It is also very likely the Director of Planning has already, and in the future may have to, consider other UDI member’s development permit applications. This means he will have to negotiate amenity charges and development cost charges (when Oak Bay eventually decides to introduce them).
If this is not a direct conflict of interest, it is certainly a perceived one. And it certainly places the Director of Building and Planning and more importantly all residents in an unnecessary risky position.
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Nothing is inevitable if you are paying attention” Oak Bay Watch
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well-informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Appendix #1
Conflict of interest definition: Oxford Dictionary: NOUN [conflict of interest]
- “A situation in which the concerns or aims of two different parties are incompatible”.
- "The conflict of interest between elected officials and corporate lobbyists"
- “A situation in which a person is in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in their official capacity”.
British Columbia is reported to have one of the strictest Lobbyist laws in North America. There is a reason for this: lobbyists have access to Government decision makers and their primary objective is to influence public policy in favor of their employer’s Interests.
Oak Bay is a member of the Urban Development Institute (UDI) that is a powerful Canadian Lobbyist Association. The UDI website makes no bones about whose interests it represents.
- “Lobbyists play such a central role in the forging of policy”,
- “The UDI team of industry leaders and professional staff who are active in promoting the interests of the development industry”,
- “Expressing its members’ ideas and business interests that affect the bottom line”,
- “UDI has been instrumental in influencing key public policy decisions at all levels of government”.
Fact: If a new District zoning bylaw or a revision is proposed, the Urban Development Institute has been invited to assist the municipality with its drafting. Well-funded, it can provide legal expertise to suit its aims.
To this end the Urban Development Institute has no fewer than 11 municipal standing “liaison committees” in the Greater Vancouver area in many of the developer friendly and over-friendly Hot Spot cities. These include: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond. Coquitlam etc.
The function of these Committees, UDI explains is that “Liaison Committees administered solely, or jointly by UDI are to meet with their respective municipalities on a regular basis. These committees create a forum for dialogue between builders and municipal staff on issues related to policy and processing”. So it’s no wonder that………….
UDI Website Testimonial: Real Estate Analysis: “Excellent source for the industry and they (UDI) provide good networking opportunities to connect with those within and outside the industry.”
The District of Oak Bay’s Urban Development Institute representative is the Director of Building and Planning. He attends UDI meetings on behalf of the District. The District has no way of monitoring whom he associates with at the meetings, what the level of his participation is or with whom he connects for “good networking opportunities”
What is known, however, is: Almost exclusively UDI member consultants have been awarded the lucrative contracts by the District to provide Land Use Reports and Presentations. UDI Consultant and Staff Presentations have promoted and included UDI densification initiatives. If adopted, these initiatives would significantly benefit the Development and Real Estate Industry and change the face of Oak Bay.
It is obvious there is a disparity and disconnect between our Staff’s level of contact and input with the Development and Real Estate Industries and Special Interest Groups (e.g. UDI) versus the input and contact afforded residents. See Chart Appendix #1.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
It seems to us that Oak Bay’s placing its Director of Building and Planning in a position where he is directly involved with fellow UDI members in addressing the District’s land use is not a good idea.
Would he not welcome being excused from having to explain to UDI members, he often attends meetings with, that their proposed multi-development is not a good fit for Oak Bay. For example: the proposed development cannot meet the transition zone requirements to the adjoining single family area and/ or the massing is inappropriate.
There is plenty of non-biased, impartial, balanced development information (that includes the Public’s Interest) now on the internet that the Planning Department can obtain and unlike expensive consultants, it is cost-free.
It is also very likely the Director of Planning has already, and in the future may have to, consider other UDI member’s development permit applications. This means he will have to negotiate amenity charges and development cost charges (when Oak Bay eventually decides to introduce them).
If this is not a direct conflict of interest, it is certainly a perceived one. And it certainly places the Director of Building and Planning and more importantly all residents in an unnecessary risky position.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nothing is inevitable if you are paying attention” Oak Bay Watch
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well-informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Appendix #1