Delta mayoral candidate Sylvia Bishop held a press conference Tuesday to announce she would make local government financial accountability a priority should she win on Oct. 20.
As a first step, Bishop pledged to immediately post current and past reports prepared in accordance with B.C.’s Financial Information Act online.
“It is long past time for our city to provide local residents and taxpayers, potential investors and others with the most up-to-date financial information about Delta’s financial payments to council members, employees and suppliers,” said the two-term councillor who is seeking the mayor’s chair under the Team Delta banner.
“Our city has a laudable and enviable financial record, and it is important that we move forward to make that information available to the widest possible audience,” she added.
Bishop noted that for many years the vast majority of municipalities in B.C., both large cities and smaller communities, have put their statements of financial information online.
“If nearly every city, town and village in B.C. can do it, regardless of their size or population, so can we,” said Bishop, who pledged to make Delta’s financial information statements available online within a matter of days of being elected.
The financial information includes a statement of assets and liabilities, a schedule of debts and detailed listings of annual remuneration paid to elected officials, unelected employees and payments to suppliers.
