Dear Editor,
This week we learned that our Mayor Patrick Johnstone travelled almost 12,000 kilometres from New Westminster to Dubai to attend the United Nations COP 28 Climate Change Convention. The mayor was accompanied by a New West City staff member who also attended the COP 28. See https://www.newwestrecord.ca/economy-law-politics/questions-swirl-over-new-west-mayors-trip-to-un-conference-in-dubai-8054358.
On a number of occasions over the last year, Mayor Johnstone and a number of Community First councillors have pointed out that City Council is “deeply short staffed.” According to Mayor Johnstone, in December 2022, the numbers were about 10% in simple vacancies and another 5% with people on leave.
In September 2023, the staff shortages continued to persist as Major Johnstone commented that some projects had been repeatedly delayed due to staff shortages. Staffing issues have been publicly documented and reported on – see: https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/staff-vacancies-taking-their-toll-on-the-city-of-new-westminster-5430483 and see also: https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/the-hunt-is-on-new-west-recruiting-to-fill-key-vacancies-at-city-hall-7442364.
In the face of these real and deep staffing shortages it is puzzling and disrespectful that the mayor and a staff person travelled so far to attend the COP 28 without officially informing/disclosing their plans to Council. It is noteworthy that the mayor has doubled down on process and procedures over the last year, yet failed to comply with restrictions and disclosure requirements of Section 105 of the Community Charter related to accepting and disclosing significant gifts – see http://bit.ly/48M3DAC, thereby potentially violating the Community Charter.
What are the residents of New Westminster to take away from the mayor’s junket, notwithstanding that it is a significant issue, when juxtaposed with his failure to attend two local public town hall discussions on issues of pressing local significance organized by Councillors elected by New West residents. See https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/crime-and-public-safety-what-happened-at-new-west-public-forum-7812851 and https://www.newwestrecord.ca/local-news/new-west-councillor-hosts-connaught-heights-densification-dialogue-6885903.
Both of these high caliber presentations and discussions were well attended by the New West community – each was attended by well over a 125 people but the mayor and other Community First councillors were noticeably absent! Is this more recent flagrant disregard for the Community Charter, the Council or the public’s opinion the mayor’s way of letting residents know that he does not need to be/is not accountable to our community? A shameful start to the New Year.
Karima Budhwani, LLB, MES
NOTE: This letter to the Editor was submitted to the Record newspaper