Postmedia reports on a crowdfunding campaign to give money to a Brantford councillor who was sanctioned 30 days’ pay for a breach of confidentiality.
Councillor Richard Carpenter disclosed closed-session information during a public debate.
“Carpenter spoke publicly about the voting records of two of his council colleagues – Gino Caputo and Rose Sicoli during a private session. Such information is to be kept confidential,” Postmedia reports.
Brantford Council voted 6-4 to suspend Carpenter’s remuneration for 30 days, which amounts to approximately $3,000.
The GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign raised $1,900.
You Can’t Give Politicians Cash
The 24 people who gave money to the GoFundMe cannot walk up to their councillor and hand him cash.
I think we all can agree that is improper.
It is unethical for politicians to accept cash to line their pockets without exception, no matter the situation.
Brantford’s Code of Conduct states:
16.3.1 Gifts – Acceptance and Refusal
The stipend paid to each Member is intended to fully remunerate Members for service to the City. Members shall not solicit, accept, offer or agree to accept any Gift, either personally or through a Family Member or friend, which is connected in any way, either directly or indirectly, with their Official Duties. For clarity, a Gift provided with the Member’s knowledge to a Family Member or to any person in the employ of the Member, that is connected in any way, either directly or indirectly, to the Member’s Official Duties, is deemed to be a Gift to that Member. Willful blindness shall be deemed to the “knowledge” for the purposes of this Article.
The organizer of the GoFundMe is well-intentioned.
The 6-4 vote clearly shows why many people reasonably believe the $3,000 penalty is disproportionate to the offence.
Nonetheless, you can’t raise cash for your friendly neighbourhood municipal councillor.
And your friendly neighbourhood councillor cannot take the money.
(They could; they just find themselves being docked 90 days’ pay as a penalty for doing so. Do we want to be caught in an infinite loop of penalty, crowdfunding, penalty, crowdfunding …?)
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: December 31, 2024
Last updated: December 31, 2024
Author: Joey Coleman
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