Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 06, 2010 12:00 PM
Vernon’s mayor insists free Olympic tickets will allow him to represent his citizens’ interests. Wayne Lippert has confirmed that he has accepted complimentary Winter Olympic event tickets from the B.C. Lottery Corporation. “On Feb. 17, I will take in the German/Sweden hockey game,” he told The Morning Star. According to the corporation, Lippert was offered two tickets worth a total of $280. Chilliwack’s mayor has refused similar tickets, saying the acceptance of gifts could be illegal under provincial legislation. However, Lippert disagrees. “In terms of appropriateness, the lottery corporation has made a decision to host it,” he said of the event. And Lippert believes Vernon and the economy will benefit from his presence at the hockey game. “It’s an opportunity to network. We get invited to different things and I’m always working with this job,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to talk about Vernon and the Okanagan and what we have to offer.”
The provision of complimentary tickets to politicians comes at the same time that many non-profit groups have lost access to B.C. Lottery Corporation grants or have seen their funding reduced.Lippert admits that could create some perception issues.“I understand that but I will see people from Lotteries there (at the game) and it will be an opportunity to talk to them about getting those grants back,” he said. No one from the B.C. Lottery Corporation could be reached for comment, but it did provide a background sheet on its Olympic ticket program. “We’ve issued 20 invitations to senior public representatives for various events including hockey, figure skating, speed skating, skiing, and opening and closing ceremonies,” it states. “These invitations were sent to senior public representatives in the communities where BCLC operates gaming facilities. This is an ongoing program that works to strengthen relationships with local governments where gaming facilities are hosted.” During the Olympics, BCLC plans to use approximately 175 tickets.
Coun. Bob Spiers says he wouldn’t have taken the tickets if he was in a position to do so. “I object to any of these tickets being out there. Those are tax dollars being used,” he said, adding that many services are suffering because of the lottery corporation reducing financial assistance. “In this town alone, grants of $2.3 million to non-profits went down in half. The school parent advisory councils have lost their money.” Spiers also wants assurances that Vernon tax dollars will not be used to cover Lippert’s transportation costs to the hockey game. While in Vancouver, Lippert will also represent Vernon at an event promoting economic development in the Okanagan.
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Vernon Morning Star Editorial Mayor wrong to accept tickets Published: February 06, 2010 12:00 PM
Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert needs to work on his excuses more when defending his acceptance of free tickets to a Winter Olympics event. Does Lippert actually believe that taking in a hockey game between Sweden and Germany really is “an opportunity to talk about Vernon and the Okanagan and what we have to offer?” Yes, there may be some opportunities for networking in between periods, but it’s more likely that any officials from the two European nations will be more interested in grabbing a hot dog and a beer than talking in-depth about economic development. And that’s if such dignitaries are even there.
It should be pointed out that the tickets are being provided by the B.C. Lottery Corporation, which has slashed its grants to social agencies and schools because of tough economic times. How is it then that there’s cash available for something as frivolous as a hockey game? Of course Lippert says he will use his time at GM Place to lobby the corporation to resurrect the grants for non-profits. But will a ho-hum game (it’s no Canada/Russia) actually draw the top bureaucrats that pull the strings over grants? And even if they do show up, they won’t want some mayor talking shop while they take in the action.
If Lippert was truly interested in helping local non-profits, he would donate the $280 in tickets to one of them so they can be auctioned off. In the end, the community has absolutely nothing to benefit from Lippert going to a hockey game. And the mayor should have taken the lead of his Kelowna and Chilliwack counterparts and refused to participate in this flagrant abuse of money.
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To Mayor Peter Milobar, a pair of free tickets to the Olympics opening ceremonies offered to him is a request for him to attend an event sponsored by a local business. To Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz, the freebies represent a violation of the Community Charter. Mayors throughout B.C. have taken all kinds of stands and made all kinds of interpretations about whether accepting free Olympics tickets, offered by the B.C. Lottery Corp. among others, goes against the charter’s section on gifts. Officials from the Ministry for Community and Rural Development did not return repeated calls from The Daily News Friday.
The free Olympics tickets offer hit the media this week after Gaetz publicly rejected hers on the basis they weren’t allowed under the Community Charter. Milobar pointed out that he and other City council members often get tickets to attend community or corporate events in their elected roles. “I get asked to attend corporate functions in the city all the time. Is it on a larger scale? Absolutely. But I’m being asked as the mayor to attend a corporate function,” he said. “I’m going to the TRU Foundation gala Saturday night. Should I not be there? Would I have been asked if I wasn’t mayor? No, I wouldn’t. I will be there as the mayor.”
Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert accepted the two hockey tickets he was offered by BCLC so that he and his wife could watch Germany and Sweden face off. He said it was a matter of timing. The game is slated for the night before the City of Vernon hosts a promotional event at the Olympics. “We’re hosting for one afternoon on Feb. 18. The game was on the 17th. Whenever I’ve gone to anything like this, there have been other politicians and staff there. It’s part of the life. You’re always working.” He has had no negative reaction to his decision, he said. “I expect there may be some flack, because there are some people against the Olympics, period,” he said. Lippert said he’ll claim the tickets as a gift over $250, as per the Community Charter. He understood Gaetz’s decision to decline. “It’s more philosophical. I can respect Sharon for not wanting to take them. It all depends on how you look at it. I grew up in business. Sometimes there’s opportunities for different perks that come along. I think as long as you’re above board about it, not trying to hide it, then it’s there. I don’t want to abuse it.”
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