UBCM bans foreign government sponsorship at annual convention
Credit to Author: Scott Brown| Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:46:32 +0000
The Union of B.C. Municipalities, which faced harsh criticism for accepting money from China, will no longer accept donations from foreign governments.
The Chinese consulate in Vancouver paid about $6,000 on its annual wine-and-dine reception with municipal leaders during September’s UBCM convention at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Port Coquitlam mayor Brad West, who was among a group of protestors who rallied outside the event, called it a “cash-for-access” scheme on the part of the Chinese consulate, which had been throwing the reception since 2012.
An independent panel, appointed by the UBCM in July to review the convention’s financing, delivered a report on Wednesday that called for, among a list of guiding principles, a ban on foreign governments sponsoring convention events such as receptions and other networking opportunities.
West credits public pressure on elected officials for prompting the policy change.
“The people of this province understood that this is a pretty simple issue: Should a foreign government, particularly one that has engaged in a number of hostile actions against our country and our interests, be able to pay and have access to our elected officials, who are supposed to be representing us and our people. And the answer is obviously — no,” said West told CKNW.
“Ultimately, I’m very pleased that I think the right decision has been made but the credit here belongs to the people in this province who spoke up and put the pressure on their elected officials to make this decision.”
Sponsorship accounts for about 20 per cent of the cost of the annual UBCM convention — $250,000-$345,000 each year — and covers everything from wireless internet, name badges and coffee, to banquets, business centres and awards.
In 2018, there were 25 corporate and industrial sponsors, seven government and Crown agencies, five unions and one consulate, which was China.
The review panel recommended that unions and corporations still be permitted to sponsor events.
With files from David Carrigg and Harrison Mooney
1. UBCM shall endeavour to keep annual Convention registration fees as low as possible to encourage and facilitate member attendance.
2. The UBCM Convention shall be delivered on a “cost-recovery” basis.
3. Sponsorship and tradeshow revenues will be sought to assist in offsetting the costs associated with holding a UBCM Convention.
4. UBCM’s Executive will delegate vetting, assessing and approving all sponsors and tradeshow participants to Corporate Operations. UBCM’s Corporate Operations will take into consideration the diversity of interests and issues within the UBCM membership as it considers the approval of sponsors and tradeshow participants.
5. Unions and corporations will be permitted to sponsor/finance any element of the UBCM Convention.
6. Foreign governments will not be permitted to sponsor/finance any UBCM Convention events such as receptions and other networking opportunities.
7. UBCM’s Convention Committee will receive these guiding principles each year.
Credit: Union of BC Municipalities