Can you lobby for the development industry while voting in City Council on decisions affecting it?
This is a question few would have ever thought would need answering—until now.
A formal request for recusal was submitted at the municipal level, but we were advised that there is no internal process available in Port Moody to resolve the issue.
Over 760 residents have signed a public petition calling for clarity, and we want the BC Supreme Court to weigh in on this important question of municipal governance:
How do conflict-of-interest rules under the BC Community Charter apply when a Council member holds a government relations role in the development industry while simultaneously voting on development applications?
Funding the Legal Application
We are a group of Port Moody citizens seeking to raise $15,000 to cover the legal costs required to prepare and file a legal application with the BC Supreme Court.
Our goal is not to make accusations, but to obtain a clear, independent, binding interpretation of the law regarding this question. This would need to come through the courts, which means we require legal funding.
We are committed to:
- Using the funds exclusively for legal fees
- Full transparency on usage of all funds
- Regular updates to supporters
- Returning any unused funds where possible
What This Application Would Do
If filed, the application would ask the BC Supreme Court to clarify how conflict-of-interest provisions apply to Council participation in development application decisions under the BC Community Charter.
The ruling could:
- Clarify how conflict-of-interest rules are interpreted in BC municipalities
- Provide binding guidance for councils across the province
- Strengthen consistency in local government decision-making
- Improve public confidence in the development approval process
Why This Matters
Development applications shape how communities grow.
They determine housing, neighbourhood design, infrastructure, traffic, zoning, and long-term planning decisions that affect everyone in the city.
If you believe, as we do, that these decisions are always made in the public interest, under transparent and clearly defined rules, please consider supporting this legal application.
Please donate, share, and help bring clarity to BC development and ethics rules.