Nova Scotia has implemented changes to its municipal code of conduct that restrict public complaints about municipal elected officials. This move has been criticized as undemocratic by some advocates. The amendments now state that complaints can only be lodged by a council member from the same municipality as the subject of the complaint.
Pam Mood, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and mayor of the Town of Yarmouth, pointed out that certain municipalities faced a surge in complaints following the implementation of the provincewide code. She emphasized the need for a clear definition of frivolous or vexatious complaints to ensure consistency among independent investigators handling municipal complaints.
Mood acknowledged the temporary removal of public complaints as a strategic decision by the province to reassess the situation and improve the code of conduct. She highlighted the importance of using the code as intended and cited examples of complaints that could be driven by personal animosity or disagreements with a council member’s actions.
The changes also prohibit council members from submitting complaints on behalf of others and allow investigators to consolidate similar complaints for efficient handling. These adjustments come in the wake of complaints against Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore for allegedly making misleading statements.
Critics, including Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch, have condemned the restriction on public complaints as anti-democratic. Conacher advocated for an independent provincial office to oversee all municipal complaints, citing flaws in the current system where final decisions are made by council members.
Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr defended the changes, stating that the government is learning from the process and collaborating with the municipal federation to enhance the code of conduct. While he did not commit to reinstating public complaints, he emphasized the importance of accountability through the electoral process.
Despite concerns raised by advocates and residents like Peter Linfield, who previously filed a complaint against Mayor Fillmore, the province stands by its decision to temporarily halt public complaints. The fate of public complaints in the future remains uncertain as the government works towards improving the system.
