June 2, 2009
New Legislation Would Aim to Increase Municipal Accountability: Ashton
Proposed legislation would help strengthen confidence and support in municipal governments through increased transparency and accountability and would extend campaign finance practices and conflict of interest rules to all Manitoba municipalities, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Steve Ashton said after introducing the legislation today.
Currently, municipal statements of assets and interests are prohibited from being publicly disclosed. Bill 35, the Municipal Conflict of Interest and Campaign Financing Act (Various Acts Amended) would require these statements be made publicly available, consistent with provincial legislation.
“The public has a right to know about any potential conflict of interest of any elected official. This legislation would strengthen the existing municipal council conflict of interest law that applies to every mayor and councillor in Manitoba by making the annual statement of assets and interests now filed by all council members available to the public,” said Ashton. “Transparency and accountability is as important in municipal governance and decision-making as it is in municipal elections.”
The bill proposes amendments that would require all Manitoba municipalities, including the City of Winnipeg, to develop and implement a code of conduct for all employees. The Office of the Auditor General in its 2008 Special Audit of the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie recommended that employee conflict of interest policies be implemented in all municipalities.
New campaign finance rules would apply to all individuals running for election in Manitoba municipalities beginning in the upcoming 2010 municipal elections. The campaign finance rules that are long-standing practices in the province and City of Winnipeg would be extended to all municipalities and would be further strengthened and updated with new rules applicable to Winnipeg as well.
The proposed election campaign finance rules for all municipalities would include:
· banning union and corporate donations;
· allowing only residents of Manitoba to contribute to municipal elections;
· setting maximum contribution limits to municipal candidates at $1,500 for heads of council and councillors elected at large, and $750 for candidates elected by ward, the same limits currently in place for the City of Winnipeg;
· applying the contribution limits to candidates and spouses;
· requiring the reporting and public disclosure of candidate contributions and expenses as currently required in the City of Winnipeg and extending the requirement to all Manitoba municipalities, and
· providing for optional municipal rebate/credit programs for election contributions or expenses.
Across Canada, most municipalities are subject to campaign finance rules. New Manitoba election legislation for municipalities came into effect for the 2006 election.
“This legislation requires full public disclosure and transparency – a goal that should support strong, accountable municipal government,” Ashton said. “Introduction of these campaign finance rules is another important step to promote transparency in municipal elections.”
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