May
12
Lettter to the editor
Changes affecting residents have occurred at GVHA. At the JBNA April 10th meeting, CEO Curtis Grad, responding to a question about GVHA constitutional obligations to work cooperatively with community associations, and to consult, said those were Board responsibilities.
The GVHA Board tells the JBNA to speak to GVHA management while GVHA management refers JBNA to the Board!
Meanwhile, the GVHA governance scandal continues. GVHA's Meeting of April 18th sent a message to those expecting GVHA to become a socially accountable and responsible corporate body. The message is NO.
"GVHA has learned a lot about democracy in the past two weeks. We learned that we are accountable only to our member agencies." GVHA late February, 2013
GVHA watchers have seen the GVHA Board's heavy hand over the years and understand that a Board that does not respect the triple bottom line also does not respect societal expectations of accountability.
Previously, Victoria, as one of the nine agencies, appointed one Director to the 14 member Board. Through bylaw changes, GVHA stripped Members of the right to appoint directors, substituting a more passive role of "nominating" individuals who the Board may appoint "at its sole discretion".
GVHA, through choosing its own Directors from public bodies, has reached a new milestone. Councilor Geoff Young foreshadowed this in 2005 when he described GVHA's Board as "self-perpetuating".
The April 18th meeting was for the 9 GVHA Member agencies. The City of Victoria had requisitioned a GVHA Special General Meeting "for the purpose of amending the GVHA Bylaws ... to re-establish the members' right to appoint directors." At the meeting, 7 votes out of 9 would be needed to pass the Victoria resolution.
Councilor Gudgeon introduced the Victoria resolution. Esquimalt Councilor Hundleby strongly opposed the resolution, saying Esquimalt would let the GVHA Board do what it wants because Esquimalt is busy on other issues. She also said it is not appropriate for an elected body to "overrule" a not-for-profit society.
Chief Thomas, Esquimalt Nation, stated that First Nations were appreciative of the friends they have at the GVHA table and would support them, and vote against the Victoria request.
Given the reluctance of Member representatives to speak in support of the motion itself, the defeat of the City motion was assured.
CRD representative Mayor Bryson moved to table the resolution until an "investigation" took place. The City motion has been tabled for 9 months.
Sadly, neither the Esquimalt nor CRD representative even spoke of the need for GVHA to incorporate public interest into the Board structure.
Public representatives are to ensure that the public interest is voiced, not to provide technical or industry expertise. Progressive private companies recognize the value of having public representation on boards. Yet, on April 18th, we heard public representatives deny the public interest role in favour of a "self-perpetuating" group.
We are losing our harbour. Will City Council act now to save our harbour for the public, or will it remain subservient to GVHA, while GVHA actively pursues private interest goals?
GVHA has directed JBNA to its member agencies. Concerns, problems, and complaints about GVHA activities should be directed to agency representatives Victoria Mayor Fortin, CRD Chair Bryson (Mayor Central Saanich) and/or PCC chair Everett.
Marg Gardiner
President, James Bay Neighbourhood Association