A city of Port Coquitlam resolution put to civic officials attending last week’s Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention will have some weight when it’s studied further this fall.
PoCo’s resolution, which called on UBCM to stop accepting financial sponsorship and facilitating receptions from foreign governments, was referred last Friday to the UBCM executive for review.
That referral came two days after an independent panel struck by the UBCM executive to look at sponsorship polled convention delegates on the same topic, finding 64.5% of voting members disagreed or strongly disagreed with foreign government sponsorship for gatherings; a total of 23.9% of delegates want it to continue while 11.6% are neutral/uncertain on the policy.
PoCo Mayor Brad West, who joined a rally last Wednesday in front of the government of China’s reception for UBCM delegates and was supported by PoCo councillors Steve Darling, Nancy McCurrach and Glenn Pollock, said he’s disappointed more delegates didn’t oppose the policy.
Still, “I think it’s a clear message to the UBCM executive where their members are at,” he told The Tri-City News Wednesday, noting the panel will release its findings in January.
