Accountability in public governance is the obligation to account for one’s actions.
Council may or many not be responsible for everything done at City Hall, but it is accountable for all actions. “The buck stops here.”
Citizens must be able to hold their elected officials accountable. Otherwise, citizens lose trust in them and in the democratic system.
If members of Council take the credit for good news, they must also take the blame for bad news. They are accountable for both.
Elections are the pillar of democracy and accountability. During the campaign, candidates make commitments to citizens.
Commitments made during an election campaign are like marriage vows between a candidate and a voter.
Citizens have lost faith in ‘politicians’ and their ‘promises’. Campaign commitments have lost their value. This is wrong. This must change.
I commit to forcing Council to establish a culture of accountability to citizens.
The following are some of the things I believe Council should be forced to do:
1) Publish press releases on bad news as well as good news.
Presently, ‘bad news’ stories are rarely published to protect Council’s image.
2) Publish audited updates on major capital projects.
If projects are on time and/or under budget, Council brags, but if there are delays or overspends, Council is quiet.
3) Consult citizens on major capital projects.
Since residents and businesses pay for these major projects, they should have a say in them.
4) Hold regular public meetings in each ward to account for Council's actions.
The City should organise public meetings in each ward every year to let citizens ask questions to their councillors.
5) Present the list of motions and how each member of Council voted on each motion.
The City's website shows the attendance record, activities and expenses of each member of Council. This is not meaningful accountability.
6) Present the list of electoral commitments made by each elected member, so citizens can compare them with actual votes.
Citizens who voted based on candidate commitments should also be able to assess how candidates, once elected, respect their commitments.
I commit to proposing a Bylaw on Democracy to make City Hall more democratic and accountable.
Without a formal bylaw, it will be very difficult to protect our local democracy and enforce Council accountability.
Elected officials must set the example.