The Election 2014 has officially started.

The election period has just started and my Mayoral campaign will officially register at 0930, the first one out of the starting gates.

The NV Council Watch blog will not write articles on the Mayoral race but only on the Councillor's race except to say now, "I think I have it wrapped up!"

Union Donation History

Many times, candidates run heavily subsidized by the unions while running to be the boss of those employees.  In some cases, candidates hide that fact from the voters until after the election when by provincial law they have to disclose.

The disclosures are on the CNV website for the last two elections and the following is a list of the donations.

Mussatto, Darrel (2011)     $13,850
Schechter, Sam (2008)      $6,450
Trentadue, Mary (2008)    $6,200
Mussato, Darrel (2008)     $5,450
Keating, Craig    (2008)     $5,200
Amanda Nichol  (2011)  $4,600
Linda Buchanan (2011)      $4,450
Cheryl Leia (2008)              $3,900
Craig Keating (2011)           $3,200
Cheryl Leia (2011)               $2,650
Rod Clark (2008)              $1,950
Juliana Buitenhuis (2011)  $1,650

More candidates start appearing

Maybe my gut feeling that we would have 30 candidates run for Councillor may turn out to be true.  Let's look at a list of ones that I'm pretty sure about with 19 days to go until the opening of nominations.  Unofficially declared in bold.

Morris, Kerry (kerry.morris.shaw.ca)
Mussatto, Darrel (darrellmussatto.ca)
Pringle, George (pringleformayor.ca)

Back, Holly (hollyback.ca)
Bell, Bill  (electbell.com)
Bell, Don
Bell, Dorothy (electbell.com)
Bookham, Pam
Buchanan, Linda
Clark, Matt (votemattclark.com)
Clark, Rod (rodclark.ca)
Fodor, Elizabeth
Heilman, Joe
Keating, Craig
Leia, Cheryl
Markis, Iani    (voteforiani.com)
McGrenera, Kathryn
Nichol, Amanda (no website submitted)
Nichols, Chris
Polly, Ron
Sostad, Ron (no website submitted)
Valente, Tony (tonyvalente.ca)

If any with website is not listed let me know.  I will be putting up a list on the front page of this blog since the City won't be putting up the candidates platforms and contacts until the 14th of October. If you know of anyone else, let me know.  If a person is not running for certain, contact me personally.  

UPDATE 
Phil Marsh is out due to injury and David Janis is in.  


UPDATE 2 Candidates who have registered are bolded.

It's almost time to act legally

20 days from now Kerry Morris will have to revamp all his campaign material to include an "authorized by Joe Blow Financial Agent for the Morris Nation" or some other legal statement missing from his material which floods the City with now.  At least within a few blocks of his fancy expensive campaign office.

But there is no law that can make him only make statements that conform with the facts or truth.

I guess some people do read this blog

Last night at Council while waiting for them to come back from their in-camera session, a gentleman in front in the gallery informed a few of us that there would be 17 people running for Councillor.

I explained that there could not be a list of official candidates as nominations did not open until the 30th of September but he said that his partner had seen a list online.

I was about to use my usual retort, "You saw it on the internet, so it must be true" when I realized that he was talking about one of my posts on this blog.  Blogger tells me I get 200 to 300 views when I do articles but other than Councillors, Council Watchers and other "inside Hockey" people.  I had never seen evidence that normal voters did read these articles.  Of course, his partner could be preparing to run against me for Mayor so maybe an inside Hockey person.

6 months ago I had thought there would be 30 people running with 5 more running for Mayor.

"Team Mussatto" should be running 4 as I've heard they think one of the reasons they think they have not taken a majority on Council is that they have run to many candidates in prior elections.  I think if they ran under an elector org name on the ballot like Vision North Van, the direct tie on the ballot to all the voters would give the victory they've wanted for a decade.  I think Cheryl Leia will be their 4th as she was short by 154 votes last time and just missed being on Council.

VOICES should be running 4 as well with three for certain, 2 VOICES Councillors and union candidate Amanda Nichol.  Not they will admit this publicly.

Two independents will run who VOICES will try to co-opt Don Bell and Tony Valente and 4 other independents will run Scott Clark, Iani Makris, Dorothy Bell and Bill Bell.

 And of course, there will be COPE's Ron Sostad so that is 14 candidates.  Lots of other possibles and we could reach that 30+5 level.  The reality is all it takes to register and run is two signatures but it takes 3000 votes to get on Council.  So pissed about the Low Level Road, power lines, the condition of the roads, run for Mayor!  Kerry, Darrel and I would love the company.

The history of VOICES (the evolution of the growth of a political party)

Last month, I had a quick exchange on FB.

2011 Candidate Amanda Nichol and soon to be 2014 Candidate 85% financed by the CUPE 389 and their parent union. The other 15% was anonymous with no indication that it was self financed.
9 hrs · Edited · Like

From the Voices website "On influencing the decision – we have had some success here and there, getting the city to slow down some of the development growth. We support Councillors not funded by developers and unions." EXCEPT they ran Amanda Nichol as a VOICES candidate and are planning to do so again.
9 hrs · Like
Toni Bolton Your imagination knows no bounds George Pringle . Maybe you should try dealing in facts as a change of pace.

That's really weak Toni.  Why don't you reveal who is on any Voices' Board of Directors?  Perhaps because if VOICES legally registered as an elector organisation, you won't be to hide the activities of VOICES. It's time to rip that mask off since Elections BC is now in charge of any matter to do with any political financing in the upcoming election.
-------
The information below is being sent to Elections BC in for their consideration when dealing with any application for VOICES to be granted "Third Party Sponsor" status as it is known know with recent changes to the Act.
-------

FACT:  on the 14th of November, the day before the 2008 election someone (pending Freedom of Information request made to the City) placed an ad in the NS News:

This was illegal, not just by my standards and my "imagination" but by the law of BC and that person should have been charged.  If they had even filed to be a legal "Third Party Advertiser" as the Labour Councils do to donate thousands of dollars to their union candidates in our but there is a legal requirement that they be completely at arm's length to the candidates they promote.  Or the candidate is legally bound to declare that expense. To pretend that they were unaware of that ad and endorsement is illegal. To have a supporter form an organization aimed at bypassing election laws is more than just illegal, it is down right immoral and unethical.

In that 2008 election, two candidates mass mailed the following leaflets (showing the cover only) 

So incumbent Bookham and Leonard were running a mini-slate.  Someone? You guess for yourself, arranged an ad with the key words from their leaflets. Bookham was reelected but Leonard was beaten badly.

In the 2011 campaign, the above mentioned Toni Bolton and close friend of Councillor Bookham legally registered an organization called "Independent Voices".  (There is that term again.)  They collected $616 from 13 anonymous donors to put this ad in the NS News on the 18th of November the day before the election:

City Website Disclosures

Does anyone doubt this two ads were done by same group?  I believe there is a core group of candidates who had illegal pre-knowledge of this ad and others like Don Bell who was placed on this ad as they they were trying to imply that Don was a member of the Independent Voices team and if you support him, you should vote with their candidates.

Again, their takeover attempt failed, electing only the incumbents and of course Don Bell topped the polls.

In the spring of 2012, the North Van City Voices (but they want no one to assume that they had any ties to Independent Voices or that it was just an evolution the old party) organisation announced they had just been founded and were a brand spanking new org with no ties to any existing org.  Most of what we hear from them comes from their website run by no other than Toni Bolton. There are only a few people that have revealed themselves in public. 

Marc Petersen. Fred Dawkins and Gerry Scott have all identified themselves at Council meetings as members of VOICES, with the the frequency the Fred Dawkins  appeared in Chambers speaking for VOICES that he taken on the role of President although Ron Polly has told a reporter that he was the President.

The Outlook did an article in April 2012 which  former union candidate in the 2011 Council race,  Amanda Nichol self-identifies as a Voices spokesperson.  I bet the VOICES' plan is to publish a third ad which includes Amanda Nichol breaking the legal "arm's length" requirement.

The North Shore News did an initial article on Voices in May 2012 which idenifies Ron Polly who was a supporter in one ad but a Mayoral recommendation in the next ad and union candidate 

In December of 2012, during Voices' tussle with Onni, someone got in the secret Voices email list and a few of were leaked some of them through a food blogger.  Voices' membership was revealed as about 20-25 people and one was signed John Watson, another name from the first two election ads.  A Joan (Peters) and Valarie (Cottingham) is mentioned, of course both and on the elections ad.

See it here.

So  8 people of the 20-25 members of Voices are identified in public, add a ninth, Ivan Leonard in as well and as they prepare for the 2014 elections, I am quite sure that they want attempt to repeat their questionable election activities for the upcoming elections.

But it seems that Diogenes' quest is ended its long journey and he has found that one honest man, candidate for council Tony Valente. For a while, while I had given him snippets of some the information above.  He had responded with statements like VOICES is just a small group of active community members.

I presume, that he had been offered an endorsement in advance and I presume his instincts told him there was something wrong with it and he told them that was truly an independent candidate and intended to remain one.  Good for you, Tony!

I've heard that Ivan Leonard when hearing of this, responded by exclaiming that: Why was the point of this whole VOICES thing if we don't have an united group (party) against Mussatto's team.

That is what is really wrong with our Council, it's a small pond with little fish trying to keep their pond as small as possible so they can puff up to pretend they're big and important.

That is on small reason why I say amalgamation and why VOICES Councillors oppose it.

How Kerry Morris can get some credibility

In his run against everyone, Kerry has to present an open team.  Not the secretive VOICES team that has a history of violating the election laws and won't register legally with a name on the ballot but actually take the reins of that herd of cats that is VOICES but gather the 50 signatures required for Kerry to found a legal VOICES electoral team with the VOICES name right on the ballot.

Of course, Kerry Morris can join in with whatever illegal activities that VOICES does this time to avoid appearing like an organized group like Vision Vancouver but if he has the ethics and will power to help make our elections a cleaner affair, he can be open and up front and give him some much needed credibility.

Of course, I could just do it and when the public goes to the polls they would see 

Pringle, George   North City Voices

on the ballot since no else has registered that name as an electoral organisation.

Hmm..

Kerry Morris gets first threatened lawsuit

by the City of North Vancouver as he made statements concerning city hall staff.  The lawsuit was dropped when they forced Kerry to apologize.  Who does he think he will work with if lightning struck and he became Mayor?

Who has unofficially declared for Council to date?

Unofficially as one is not an official candidate until nomination papers are accepted by the City's Chief Electoral Officer and they won't be ready for pickup until the 2nd of September.  Unless a potential candidate has made a personal statement stating he or she is intending to run or put up a website stating this, I do not consider them even an unofficial candidate.

Mayor
Morris, Kerry
Pringle, George (Amalgamate North Van) 

Councillor (6 to be elected)
Bell, Bill
Bell, Dorothy
Bookham, Pam
Clark, Matt
Heilman, Joe
Valente, Tony
Sostad, Ron
Although not even officially declared, seriously likely candidates are

Mayor
Mussatto, Darrel

Councillor
Back, Holly
Bell, Don
Buchanan, Linda
Clark, Rod
Foder, Elizabeth
Keating, Craig
Nichol, Amanda

100 Days until the Election!

Although it's 33 days until the nomination packages are due at 4:30 on October 10, it's already over.  Our new Council for 2015 - 2018 will be.

Mayor George Pringle - oops I think I spelled Darrell Mussatto wrong so I'll start again

Mayor Darrell Mussatto

He will be joined by:

Councillor Don Bell (free of the VOICES in his ear for what could be his last term)

Councillor Dorothy Bell (first term proving she is the brains behind the op)

Councillor Bill Bell (for his fifth term interrupted by his exile to Mexico)

Councilor Linda Buchanan (for her third term on School Board)

Councillor Craig Keating (head of the Coalition of BC NDP municipal Councillors)

Councillor Rod Clark (who is again announcing he will be the VOICES candidate for Mayor in 2018)

A lot of sound and fury will be expended to change very little, mostly from the campaign of former energy consultant and now former Mayoral candidate Kerry Morris who managed not to arrested again when he consistently lost his ever absent cool at every town hall and candidates meeting.

The new four year term will mean an extra year prior to the election year where Council can attempt try to take their eyes off the countdown clock of their term of office and the next election. 

The Harper & Tory hating Councillors will expend massive energy in  trying to return Canada to being a socialist paradise whether it be orange or red to no actual effect, a few more Liberal seats but still a Harper government and NDP official opposition.  Trudeau will take a walk in the snow and get lost and the Liberals won't bother to organize a search party.

The Provincial Government's municipal campaign reform will come in and it won't affect anything but Vancouver where all the problems are anyway despite the efforts of the VOICES political party to turn this into an election issue in North Vancouver.  There will be an spending cap with a set amount and an amount per voter.  In our City, let's say it is $20,000 plus a dollar voter for Mayoral candidates and $7,500 and a dollar per voter for Councillor candidates.  No candidate has ever exceeded that level of a spending cap as no one tries to spend their way to a Council seat such as Rob MacDonald's $780,000 donation to the NPA last time just prior to their nomination in 2011 which didn't even result in him being a failed candidate.

Union activist and Rod Clark protege Amanda Nichol will be back for her third strike in 2018 after her platform of increasing CUPE 389 jobs in the Rec Commission fails.  Rod Clark's plan of giving her his Council seat as he ascended to the Mayor's Chair before intemperate anti-Semite comments he made during a public Council meeting surfaced.  (Good thing the media didn't catch the comments Rod Clark made about Mexicans that some may consider racist).  If Amanda changes her name to Bell and actually is elected, she can thank Rod Clark for helping her evict him to the Sharp/Schechter/Fearnley club.

There will an election for a seven person Council, not nine

Let's go back to the beginning, about 4 years ago while I was a member of Task Force for Civic Engagement, we asked for a staff report on the issue of whether the City had to increase the size of it's Council to nine when it passes the 50,000 population mark.  When a new Provincial Law ordering this came into force in 2004, they included a provision that if a municipality wanted to keep their old size to hold a referendum to authorize this. So the District was over that level and would of had to elect a 9 member Council in the election of 2008.  With its Mayor, Don Bell being elected a MP, they had to hold a byelection so during the byelection they did so.  Overwhelming, the voters voted against the extra Councillors and expenses associated with them.

Frankly, the Task Force was just looking for a way to increase voter turnout and if eventually the City would have had to hold a referendum anyway, why not now?  The City voters would overwhelmingly vote against the extra Councillors as well.  The Task Force decided not to recommend this.

A year later, when I ran for Mayor, I noticed BC Stats report that the City population had increased to over 52,000 and tried to drop this as a bomb at the Mayor's Candidates' Meeting.   I presented this as an unintended consequence of rapid development and was given the excuse that the population was only officially calculated according the Census which didn't jive with the Law.

The new Council pursued the issue prompted by Councillor Clark, the result was that further research revealed another reason why the size of was to stay at 7 despite the population of the City.  The Letter Patent says so.  The what? Think of it as the founding document of the City which the Lieutenant Governor of BC has to issue to create any municipality in BC.  It is full of outdated material, I looked for provision that said the City had to deliver 10 cows to the Mayor every New Years day.  It doesn't but it does say:

  "The Council shall consist of a Mayor and six Aldermen, and the whole number present at each meeting thereof shall not he less than four."

Recently, Council Watcher John Harvey restarted this argument since by the Census numbers the City is over 50,000 and by their own numbers, the city has no choice now the Provincial Law orders it.  So they are repeating the mistake made in that staff report in which I used to make a mistaken interpretation. As of Monday the 23rd of June, John was still promoting his mistake. Let's see the actual Law: 

"Size of council
118  (1) Unless otherwise provided by letters patent or by a bylaw under this section, the council size for municipalities must be as follows:
  
(a) for a city or district having a population of more than 50 000, the council is to consist of  a mayor and 8 councillors;
  
(b) for a city or district having a population of 50 000 or less, the council is to consist of a mayor and 6 councillors;

(c) for a town or village, the council is to consist of a mayor and 4 councillors.
        
(2) For the purposes of this section, any change to a council size under subsection (1) is to be based on the population of the municipality as at January 1 in a general local election year and the change takes effect for the purposes of that election.

(3) A council may, by bylaw, establish the number of council members as a mayor and 4, 6, 8 or 10 councillors.

(4) If a bylaw under subsection (3) would

(a) reduce the number of council members, or

(b) maintain the current number of council members, despite an 

increase that would otherwise result under subsection (2),
it may only be adopted if it receives the assent of the electors.

(5) A bylaw under subsection (3)
(a) must be made at least 6 months before the next general local election, and
(b) does not become effective until that general local election.
(6) The size of council as established under subsection (3) applies despite any provision of a municipality's letters patent."

Sorry to all those who have not worked as a Legislative Assistant like me but subsection (1) says it very clearly "Unless otherwise provided by letters patent" which I quoted above. If you have any question as to whether the statement which follows "or by a bylaw under this section" applies, it refers to subsection (3) which has never been passed by (or even discussed) by Council.  

Council could and could have at any time passed a bylaw to have a Council of 5, 9 or even 11 members.  Of course, one of the anti-amalgamation crowd have argued that one NVan would have a Council of 9 rather than 2 Councils of 7 would be a hideous reduction of citizen access to Councillors. Well, they could have increased their number at any time, adding up to 4 Councillors if the anti-amalgamation Council really thought that paying for more Councillors was a "social good".  

Apparently, as in the case of most anti-amalgamation arguments they don't really believe in the point of the argument, they'll say anything if it is true or not.

VOICES divides into at least two warring camps

http://www.nsnews.com/news/moodyville-residents-push-for-density-1.1114761

It seems that all the early work done to recruit candidates has gone to waste for it looks like Michelle Binkley  be running with the Mayor's not legally registered Electoral Group instead of the VOICES not legally registered Electoral Group.

Michelle had nominated CUPE 389 candidate Amanda Nichol in her 2011 run to put a CUPE 389 employee directly on the Council but in 2013 had also endorsed Craig Keating for NDP in the Provincial election. It seems that that tie won out as rumoured by Mayoral candidate Kerry Morris, Michelle is going to run with Craig Keating's NDP candidates in the upcoming municipal election. All Amanda's work for VOICES going to waste.  It seems that a hard core anti-development VOICES' attack on the residents request that the OCP's allowed density be increased in their area has caused this divide among these two left wing groups.

I think we've seen the last of VOICES Councillors and Mayor Mussatto's NDP not legally registered electoral group group may have the majority he has been dreaming of.  Their pretense of a claim to Don Bell as one of their candidates fell apart with Don's vote for the Onni Towers.

Since VOICES does not intend to legally register with Elections BC perhaps I will do so and run for Mayor.  All it takes is 50 names on the list.  

Pringle, George  NVan City VOICES is how the ballot could read.  Hmmm...

I won't be running for Council

As a campaign manager I've said to Council wannabes in a few cities that you have to door to door knock if  you want a chance of winning. When I ran for Mayor last time I was out knocking for a day and was unable to walk for a few days. Two and a half years later, it was obvious to me that any door to door campaigning was impossible for me. I've been fighting Vet's Canada declaring me "incapacitated." I tried to think I could think around my disabilities but the increasing amount of pain I was dealing with was proving to be too much.

As a disabled military vet forced into early retirement by my disability, I live on a small fixed income which at least has grown with the Tory Govt's Veteran's Charter. Enough that depriving myself a few things I could have had about a $6000 campaign budget. But as I was advance ordering some North Shore News ads to to the first to buy some really good placements in November, the act of having to take the first $1500 out of my wallet caused me my Scottish blood to rebel and rethink my actions.  It took a few days tossing it around in my mind to come to the logical conclusion. There's no point in running.  I wrote to one old political friend that "I'm think I'll see 60 years of age but I doubt I'll see 70".  I have no time for a multi-election strategy and without a big lottery win, I won't have the spending required to win in 2014. 

Also I what I wanted to say in this blog and say to voters on the street was going to be inhibited by becoming a candidate and with my strength as a researcher of boring bureaucracy and government acts and regulations, I have a few things to reveal.  I have some things to say about the illegal activities of VOICES.

So I will continue as an Unite North Van board member and they will decide UNV's future but not become a candidate next fall.

The OCP process

Tonight, a few citizens expressed agreement with the draft changes to the Official Community Plan and the current plan to hold a public hearing and seemed to stand in opposition with Councillor Clark's motion to delay the OCP process so that it would extend into the fall byelection.

It is absolutely vital to finish the OCP process before the madness of election time taints the process.

Advice for Ron Sostad & COPE

The word of the year is branding.

Former candidate Ron Sostad has made statements that he will founding a branch of the Coalition of Progressive Electors (cope.bc.ca) in North Vancouver.  As I have founded Unite North Van which is in the process of recruiting candidates to run in the election next fall, I have looked at the process closely.

Why would a candidates or group of candidates want to run in an Electoral Organization?  Most importantly, you get a name on the ballot in addition to your own.  So Ron will have  Sostad, Ron COPE right in front of the voter at the time of voting.  So if a voter happens to be a militant socialist, they are reminded of it at the crucial time. Ron will also have Vancouver COPE's advertising which will bleed into the North Van.  Maybe even a TV ad.  The "brand" is clear and voters will have a clearer idea of their electoral choice.

It is also the most legal and honest manner of forming a slate.  A novel thing in North Van.

In my case, I have a very specific North Van brand with a very clear purpose.  Pringle, George Unite North Van   When Mayor Mussatto or Councillor Bookham can't get their unregistered slates elected to a majority it is because they have not created enough linkage between their candidates.

I will have a simple message to attach to the branding of Unite North Van, if you vote just for our candidates the process of amalgamation can being. There would be a referendum in  about 3 years so the voters can assess the details but it doesn't happen unless you vote for our four candidates.  We don't need 50+1 at this point.  Don Bell topped the polls last time with 11% so I've set 10% as our goal.

A new Provincial law which should be proclaimed in a few weeks set a new set of rules on this matter.  They will make it clear that "election sponsors" can only act as third party advertisers.  They will make it clearer that candidates cannot set up third party organizations to endorse themselves as candidates.  More importantly these sponsors have to pre-register with Elections BC before they take a donation or spend any funds. There will also be the ability to legally challenge an application. 

Fun times are ahead.

Did Kerry Morris and Voices cancel Christmas?

Well, Kerry, likely a Voices candidate for Mayor, is quite known for his harsh pontifications using his interpretations of actual events which do vary from reality to a serious degree.  Kerry and Voices has more than incurred my annoyance at their cheap electoral tactics but the wrath of the Lower Lonsdale Business Association who has now pulled out of their volunteer offer to do the free heavy volunteer lifting of the Party at the Pier and the Lower Lonsdale Christmas Festival.

I hope they realize the damage their single minded focus on winning an election at any cost has registered the first couple of costs - the cancellation of two important community events.

Is Rod Clark going to run for Mayor again?

Events have answered this question.  Rod would only make a one on one run and not with Morris in the fray.

Now Rod is running against his protege Amanda and all the candidates she has recruited for Voices like Michelle Binkley. I wonder if he just handed his Council seat away?

If VOICES follows its usual pattern, they will pretend to endorse the best 6 candidates although it will be predetermined as it will mostly be the VOICES inner circle who  almost all on the campaign trail now. Rod Clark, Amanda Nichol, Michelle Binkley, Ron Polly, Elizabeth Foder and one more to go before they have to boot someone to create a space.  And of course Mayor wannabe Kerry Morris, now in the Mayor's race who has me thinking the unthinkable - voting for Darryl.

None will have any indication they were in VOICES prior or made a media appearance  on April 11, 2012:
"North Vancouver City Voices, an even newer resident-led group, is offering a similar sentiment. I caught up with Amanda Nichol, former council hopeful and dedicated city hall watcher, to talk about why the group formed."

Really, Independant VOICES changed their name to VOICES, probably trying to break the stain of violating the election laws in 2008.

So as one of the founders of VOICES who will pick herself to be endorsed and published in a anonymous ad paid for by anonymous donors - who are the rest of people in charge?  Let's see behind the curtain, oh great OZ.  ....  Oh, I see, you're too busy fighting a lack of transparency at City Council.So as one of the founders of VOICES who will picks herself to be endorsed at arms length and published in an anonymous ad paid for by anonymous donors - who are the rest of people in charge.  Let's see behind the curtain, oh great OZ.  ....  Oh, I see, you're too busy fighting a lack of transparency at City Council.

Why was someone handed this card by a candidate as a part of their campaigning they were doing at School Board event? Will Elections BC find VOICES to be a Third Party advertiser as they legally declared themselves to be in 2011 and are likely to try again?

It's a good thing that VOICES will have to preregister with the Chief Electoral Officer in Victoria and be accepted before they can take a donation or spend any money. Good thing the law they oppose was tightened up to stop their misdeeds.

Kerry is really running for Mayor and it's not April the first this time

Oh, here is why Kerry Morris threatened to sue me for an April Fool's joke, other than he is too serious and doesn't have enough of a sense of humour to even be a Councillor in our City.

I thought he was running for a Councillor position and predicted so in this blog, it was obvious in this action he was running and when he chastised me to stating he would be a candidate, his voice would go up about two octaves. In his mind, he wanted to a big politician like he saw in the movies and make a big TV announcement. 

A quick check of this site shows Kerry's usual spouting off without any real knowledge particularly using a clip of me to "prove" something about conflict of interest when it is about an out of order motion that Voices Councillor Heywood got passed. In place he claims the Councillor Keating verbally told him he broke the Disclosure laws.  Go Morris Nation, just go.

I could go through this point by point but I have more important things to do.

Size of Council

When serving as a member of the CNV's Task Force on Civic Engagement, a member, asked whether the City was close to having to do a referendum to keep the Council size at 7.  When the Community Charter had been created, the District with 7 Council members was already well over the 50,000 population which required them to have a 9 member Council.

In June 2004, then Mayor Don Bell was elected as an MP and a byelection had to be held so they held a referendum to hold them at a Council of 7. I think almost 90% voted not to spend the money on extra Councillors.

Staff did a report which was mostly quoting this section of the Community Charter Act:

118  (1) Unless otherwise provided by letters patent or by a bylaw under this section, the council size for municipalities must be as follows:

(a) for a city or district having a population of more than 50 000, the council is to consist of a mayor and 8 councillors;

(b) for a city or district having a population of 50 000 or less, the council is to consist of a mayor and 6 councillors;

(c) for a town or village, the council is to consist of a mayor and 4 councillors.

(2) For the purposes of this section, any change to a council size under subsection (1) is to be based on the population of the municipality as at January 1 in a general local election year and the change takes effect for the purposes of that election.

(3) A council may, by bylaw, establish the number of council members as a mayor and 4, 6, 8 or 10 councillors.

(4) If a bylaw under subsection (3) would

(a) reduce the number of council members, or

(b) maintain the current number of council members, despite an increase that would otherwise result under subsection (2),

it may only be adopted if it receives the assent of the electors.

(5) A bylaw under subsection (3)

(a) must be made at least 6 months before the next general local election, and

(b) does not become effective until that general local election.

(6) The size of council as established under subsection (3) applies despite any provision of a municipality's letters patent.

Just prior to the last election, in the Mayor's candidates debate, I made the point that Provincial legislation dictated an increase in the size of Council, due to the rapid growth shown by BC Stats.

 It was more of a political point about not considering the implications of population growth and the Mayor's rush had cost the taxpayer's.  After the election, Councillor Clark pursued the issue and Council did a review of that situation.  I was in Windsor at this time so limited to the whatever info was available online to access what was happening. The Mayor had pointed out the flaw in my point, that the size of Council was determined by the Letters Patent. 

The Letters Patent was not a term I was familiar with but it something I am now as it would be the final act of amalgamation.  Think of it as the City's Constitution, I think of an old scroll like the Declaration of Independence. The size of Council was established and it would take a bylaw to change that, as per sub-section 3 above. So Council by majority vote reduce itself by two members, save some money and shorten many long Council meetings.  The bylaw, as per sub-section 6 trumps the Letters Patent.

I've requested a copy, I doubt it will contain much more than a description of the legal boundaries and the size of Council but it may contain something interesting.  It was written around 1907 when the North Shore was unamalgamated into its current form.

John Harvey, a regular Council Watcher pointed out that the population was now over 50,000 and by law the upcoming election had to be for a Mayor and 8 Councillors, not 6.  I got the impression that others had been knowledgeable and intending to run get that electoral advantage, the heck with the unnecessary cost to the taxpayers.

Of course, they were as wrong as I was in 2011 for the same reason.  For some reason, John thought that the entry of former Councillor Bill Bell into the election of November 15th, the video minutes are not up yet, I need to listen to exactly what he said to understand  his point.

So wannabes, no easy ride. Recycling my old ideas without really understanding the legality of the situation is a bad idea, particularly flawed ones.

Kerry Morris announces Mayoral run as VOICES candidate (APRIL FOOL)

Kerry Morris, an energy consultant, has announced that after negotiations with the VOICES political party Board of Directors to rid itself of its secretive nature by making its Board public on its website and legally registering under the new Municipal Elections law passed by the Provincial Government, he will run against current Mayor Mussatto.

In the past VOICES has violated the Election law and they promised me they won't do that in the future. I found hypocritical for VOICES to be consequently demanding transparency when they refuse to be transparent themselves.  Morris has also demanded that all Board Members and volunteers be voting members of the City of North Vancouver.

"Voices Members Ron Polly, Rod Clark, Tony Valente, Elizabeth Foder and Amanda Nichol will be joining my team and we will be endorsing Don Bell because everyone loves him and he will top the polls anyway. This way people will think Don has endorsed us and we'll sweep into power on his coattails."

Voices will have a three point platform; to sell the Lonsdale Energy Corporation, to build a Skytrain line to West Van to the Waterfront station and to seek an amalgamation with West Van but not with the District of North Van.  Kerry Morris said, "I will deliver personally to each resident in a clear plastic binder and lots of spreadsheets how this will be funded at no cost to taxpayer."

When hearing of Morris' announcement, Mayor  Mussatto announced his intention to run again and to legally register under the new Act as a legitimate elector organization. "That darn Morris won't trump me by being more transparent then me." said candidate Mussatto.

Elections are on November 15th, 2014


UPDATE:
Kerry Morris threatens legal action after being APRIL FOOLED

"Dear Mr. Pringle:

I have this morning read with interst your "Blog" in which you make various allegations of fact about myself and others in the community.

I have long held to the opinion that you should be given both a wide berth, as well as considerable latitude in relation to your conduct. I hold to these believes, not just because you have personally and directly informed me that; "if I haven't received a rumor by noon, I just make one up". I also assume that like myself, others have determined that there are issues of intellectual depth and capacity, which go beyond the issues of proper conduct which I have referenced above.

That said, I find myself unable to contemplate why you would allege quotations which you represent as my words, when in fact you know these allegations of fact as you have posted them are indeed false.

As you are well aware, making false statement leaves the person doing so exposed to legal recourse. If you wish, I am quite prepared to give you an education on the legal principles which your resent "Blog" has violated in respect of me personally. Were I to do such a thing, if would require your attendance at the BCSC, and shortly there after, at your bank to make full and legally ordered restitution.

Alternatively, you could just write me an appology and remove this nonsence from your "Blog". The choice is yours. Take all the time in the world to mull the matter over. You have until 4:00 pm today, after which I will begin the process of providing you that legal education to which I refer. Please don't inturpret my comments as a threat. They are most certainly not intended in that vain. Rather, they merely highlight a promise!


Kerry Morris"

Goodbye Outlook

thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2014/03/14/North-Shore-Outlook/

March 27th will be the last edition of the Outlook published. I thought this would happen as when the North Shore New's owner (Glacier Media) bought the Outlook from Black Press. Most cities in BC have a two community papers, a once a week Black paper and a twice a week paper from Glacier or its predecessors.  The North Shore News published three weekly editions which left less exclusive "time on the shelf" for the Outlook.

Safe landing to all staff not making the transition. 

Scrap the Stern II

As in all good horror stories, the monster comes back at the end to threaten the good people of the town once again.  Tonight the Flambourgh Head Stern tries to raise from its watery grave to threaten the taxpayers of the City of North Van.

Actually, what it happening is an "inside hockey" game with a double rescinding of motions being proposed.  REF!

On the 9th of September, Council passed the following motion in open Council as per the Provincial law, the discussion and report was in-camera.

11. Security of City Properties

Moved by Councillor Clark, seconded by Councillor Keating

THAT Council direct staff to proceed with disposing of the stern and the engine of the Flambourgh Head and to proceed with the removal of the hazardous materials;

THAT funding of up to $250,000 (Funding Appropriation #1327) be appropriated from the "Lower Lonsdale Amenity Reserve Fund" to complete the disposal process;

THAT staff be directed to contact the Artificial Reef Society to investigate the removal of the stern and engine and the associated costs, and if there is no interest from the Artificial Reef Society, that staff proceed with the removal and report back to Council;

AND THAT the report remain In Camera.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

So 5 months later, the stern still sitting there on death row awaiting its execution until the 27th of January when Councillor Bookham submitted a motion that the issue be "revisited".  There is no mention of a "Motion to revisit" in the Council Procedures Bylaw 7590.  A motion can only be reconsidered during the same meeting or rescinded in the following meeting. This motion should never have been considered, it was clearly a motion to rescind and out of order having negated the motion of the 9th of September.  It read:

21.  Flamborough Head

Moved by Councillor Bookham seconded by Councillor Bell

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the decision to scrap the stern be revisited;

THAT the discussion take place in open Council;

THAT the option of including the stern of the Flamborough Head in Lot 5 of the Pier Development area be referred to Roger Brooks and the Brand Development Team for their input and comments for further consideration by Council;

AND THAT staff report back on options and the financial implications for preserving the stern.

At the last meeting of 24 February, the following motion (active clauses only) was  passed to reinstate the original motion:

19. Flamborough Head Options and Costs 

Moved by Councillor Keating, seconded by Councillor Buchanan

THAT Council receive the information regarding the costs associated with the Flamborough Head;

THAT staff report back with options for preserving of a piece of metal from the stern of the Flamborough Head, to create a commemorative piece to be situated in the Shipyards Precinct;

Councillor Bell and Councillor Bookham are recorded as voting contrary to the motion.

Tonight we have yet again a motion to rescind the prior motion, at least in order this time except that you can't keep repeating a failed motion within 6 months to stop Councillors who can't accept the failure of a motion but since the Chair accepted an out of order motion he kind of reset the clock on this.

10. Flamborough Head

Submitted by Councillor Bookham

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City rescind the motion to scrap the stern and direct staff to report back on the various options integrating the stern in the building proposed for the east side of Lot 5 or at some location at the Shipyards.

Councillor Bookham has a snarky motion that will be ruled out of order or just fail with the lack of seconder about forcing the City to return funds on the basis that it basis that the funds were granted by various people on the basis that the funds were spent on preserving the stern.  The City spent over far more funds than granted for attempts to preserve the stern.  It's is if Councillor Bookham is viewing the stern as her legacy to her time on Council which is soon to end.

The issue of the Provincial's grant is one constantly misused by Bookham and her municipal political organisation, Voices.  The left over grant from the never to be National Maritime Museum is to be used for maritime heritage, not exclusively for the Stern.  Aside from the over a million dollars wasted in attempts to preserve the stern, the funds spent on the crane and other items. The friends of the museum will come to the city shortly expecting millions of dollars for their new museum.  Where does Voices and the other folks in the Save the Stern movement think the funds to give to the new maritime museum is coming from.  That's right the left over provincial grant money.   So in the choice between the stern or the new museum, I'm picking the museum.  We'll see what the Council picks later tonight.

UPDATE:  The vote is done and for the second time tonight is Rod Clark who despite the oncoming election decided to actually be "the guardian of North Van taxpayers" again.