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Conduct of directors addressed by qathet Regional District

Costs of investigation and litigation outlined in rise and report session
Paul Galinski
Paul Galinski
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FINAL RULING: qathet Regional District’s board of directors released costs associated with processes involving Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne at the final board meeting before the October 15 civic elections.Peak archive photo

After an in camera session at the September 29 qathet Regional District board meeting, there was a rise and report session outlining conduct of elected officials.

Electoral Area A director and board chair Patrick Brabazon said the board will be lobbying the provincial government for more comprehensive legislation regarding responsible conduct of elected officials, including penalties, and greater protection of employees in disrespectful workplace scenarios.

Brabazon added that the regional board will retain an integrity commissioner or someone under any other such similar title.

The board will be revising the directors’ remuneration and expenses bylaw by accommodating reduction in pay related to code of conduct penalties, according to Brabazon.

The board will also be amending the procedure bylaw to strengthen and reinforce respectful/responsible conduct of directors, and considering to link the code of conduct to the procedure bylaw, the board chair stated.

The board will be developing a standalone workplace discrimination and bullying and harassment policy regarding elected officials, said Brabazon.

Regarding Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne, Brabazon said the board, relative to the petitioner judgment in Gisborne et al versus Brander and qathet Regional District, has advised legal counsel to proceed with collecting court awarded costs from the petitioners.

“The board, in response to requests for information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act regarding legal fees, costs and invoices associated with the censure and sanction processes involving director Gisborne, the bullying and harassment investigation associated with director Gisborne, and the lawsuit Gisborne et al versus Brander and qathet Regional District, advises the public that invoices related to these items are privileged and confidential and therefore will not be released,” said Brabazon.

“The board, in an effort to be transparent and accessible, is providing a summary of these costs as follows: censure and sanction legal costs total $40,654.96 from 2019 to 2022; legal costs associated with the bullying and harassment investigation are totalled at $46,036.54; legal costs to date for Gisborne et al versus Brander and qathet Regional District total $37,791.32.”