The Editor,
A letter to Port Moody council:
I can believe that receiving an email from me in support of Coun. Diana Dilworth’s motion — to be considered at the Oct. 8 council meeting — under agenda item 9.14 will be of no surprise considering the letter I wrote to every mayor, council person and elected municipal official in British Columbia on exactly this topic.
To be crystal clear:
For me, this is not about innocence or guilt. I stand, along with 99% of this country I suspect, firmly behind the Charter of Rights and in particular for the purpose of this discussion: Legal Rights 11(d) "to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law and in a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal."
I also stand behind the Port Moody Bylaw No. 3164 Council Code of Conduct, particularly Representing the Municipality, 4.1(d) "arrange their private affairs and conduct themselves in a manner that promotes public confidence and will bear close public scrutiny."
Until such time as the province of British Columbia removes the onus from the criminally charged to do the right thing, removes the challenge from fellow council members, peers and the public to have to have debates and make resolutions — and basically beg the offender to do the right thing — then we will continue to be in this position.
I support Coun. Dilworth and commend her for putting forward this motion.
For the rest of council, I expect you to also support this motion based, again, on the Port Moody Bylaw No. 3164 7. Adherence to Policies, Procedures, and Bylaws, 7.1: "Members shall uphold the law established by the Parliament of Canada and the Legislature of British Columbia and the bylaws, policies, and procedures adopted by Council." If the Mayor cannot adhere to 4.1(d) then you, according to 7.1 need to support the motion captured in agenda item 9.14.
Mayor Vagramov, you just need to do the right thing.
Laura Dick, Port Moody
