Delta’s golden handshake didn’t last long, but it still managed to achieve its main objective.
As one of its first orders of business, the new George Harvie-led Delta council has shelved the end of service benefit for civic politicians, but not before all seven members who approved the controversial policy were able to cash in.
The idea of a golden handshake had been kicking around city hall for a while, primarily driven by the notion that it wouldn’t be right to have Lois Jackson walk away from 45 years of civic service with nothing more than memories and good wishes considering provincial and federal politicians receive pensions after just two terms in office.
The policy was debated and amended behind closed doors before it was quietly – and unanimously -- approved at a public meeting early last year, but blew up during this year’s election campaign, prompting Harvie to promise to kill it if elected. The new mayor made good on that pledge last month, but he also managed to ensure Jackson, who brought him on board as CAO almost two decades ago, got her payout without looking like he was playing favourites.
Given that four members of council that approved the golden handshake had already collected -- Ian Paton resigned his seat midway through the year to focus on his MLA duties, Heather King didn’t seek re-election and both Sylvia Bishop and Robert Campbell were defeated in the October election – it would have seemed unfair to penalize the remaining three members simply because they were victorious at the polls. Regardless of how much you think the policy might smell, it’s hard to justify paying out some but not others.
So Jackson will pocket almost $125,000, and won’t even have to wait to get the money until her political career is over, assuming, of course, she doesn’t stay on Delta council forever. It seems strange to receive an end of service benefit before your service comes to an end, but given she was going to get the cash anyway, the timing becomes a moot point.
For someone who helped devise the unpopular policy, Harvie has managed to emerge from this one looking pretty good: He won the PR battle by killing the golden handshake, but he’s also ensured Jackson doesn’t leave empty handed.
