Delta voters need a clearing of the air before they cast their ballots this October.
That’s what Sylvia Bishop had to say Tuesday as she took a shot at rival mayoral candidate George Harvie, describing the Enviro-Smart issue as corrosive and one that diminishes the public’s confidence in city hall.
“It is evident today that Delta’s former city manager acted without authority five years ago when he ‘strenuously’ opposed public consultation in connection to an air quality permit for the Ladner composting facility. I believe Mr. Harvie’s assertion that he acted at the direction of our elected council to be unsupported by the evidence.”
Alongside fellow Team Delta council candidate Joan Hansen at a news conference at Memorial Park in Ladner, Bishop said the election campaign has now become about trust.
“The question I seek to answer, therefore, is how we restore trust in Delta’s city hall?” asked the two-term councillor.
Bishop promised, if elected, to establish an ad hoc committee on ethical local government. By next spring, she said the committee’s final report would be drafted into a bylaw to be considered by Delta council.
“Bylaws such as these are increasingly common in municipalities across Canada, and in recent years the Union of B.C. Municipalities has produced a number of policy papers on the topic,” said Bishop.
In an interview with the Optimist, Harvie said the public record shows he received direction from city council prior to the 2013 meeting in question.
“I followed council direction throughout my career as has been documented,” Harvie said. “Council direction was quite strong having a very questionable bylaw on air emissions and odours in the farming community and I carried that out following the Jan. 28, 2013 council meeting.”
Harvie said his focus and his team’s focus is to continue to run their campaign and talk about all the issues facing Delta taxpayers.
“Our team is moving forward. In the big picture, we are looking at the whole city and talking with people about items of interest to the whole community, especially North Delta,” he said.
