NORTH BATTLEFORD - The City of North Battleford has finally decided it will not be taking on an integrity commissioner at this point in time.
A resolution to approve the implementing of an integrity commissioner was defeated at council Monday, though the vote was not unanimous.
The issue of whether the city should hire an integrity commissioner had been before city council for some time. It is described as an impartial position that reports directly to council, which has the power to conduct an inquiry into allegations from a member of council or the public as to whether a member of council has contravened the Code of Ethics.
Integrity commissioners are a legislated requirement in Ontario and have become common in other Western provinces, but not yet so common in Saskatchewan.
Right now, a few Saskatchewan communities have Integrity Commissioners. Those are Saskatoon, Regina, Swift Current, Humboldt, Martensville, La Ronge, Kyle, White City, and quite notably the Rural Municipality of Sherwood, which had been the scene of a huge municipal scandal over conflict of interest last decade.
Three other communities, Warman, Prince Albert and Yorkton, were interested in the idea, according to city administration.
For several members of council, including Councillor Len Taylor, the $17,000 cost of taking on an integrity commissioner was the main stumbling block.
Taylor thought the idea “had value” and agreed integrity is “critical in public service.” But he made known his belief that North Battleford was not big enough to need an integrity commissioner, especially compared to Saskatoon.
“In Saskatoon, councillors are paid full time wages. They work, it’s a living. For us, we’re almost volunteers,” said Taylor.
He also noted that, unlike Saskatoon, in North Battleford people are more likely to encounter councillors out in the community.
“People can talk to us, and they do talk to us. We listen to them. And we have integrity. Occasionally, something slips, and I think we’re big enough and strong enough to handle those things ourselves and if we can’t, there’s systems through SUMA, other cities, that we might be able to plug into.”
Most other councillors sided with Taylor’s position. On the other hand, Councillor Kent Lindgren voiced support for hiring an integrity commissioner, saying it was important regardless of the community’s size.
“Integrity doesn’t live within the size of a city or a municipality,” said Lindgren.
“I do think it’s important, and whether it’s this year, I think this is something that will be coming forward so I will be voting in favour of this tonight.”
In the end, the resolution for an integrity commissioner was defeated.
