Use 'caution' taking Olympic freebies: minister

CBC NEWS: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 | 6:20 PM PT

Municipal politicians in B.C. who are concerned about the legality of accepting tickets to Olympic events should err on the side of caution, the province's Minister of Community Development said Wednesday. "Municipal councillors and regional districts ought to have policies around these sections in the community charter," minister Bill Bennett said Wednesday. "Frankly, my advice to local government officials would be to err on the side of caution." The B.C. Community Charter says councillors must not accept benefits in connection with the performance of their duties. But there are exceptions for gifts received as part of protocol or social obligations. Just what was meant by 'social obligations' may be interpreted differently in Vancouver, Richmond or Whistler - which are hosting Olympic events - than in other communities which are not, Bennett said. The minister said he did not think those sections of the act have ever been tested in court.

Some B.C. politicians have vowed not to accept the freebies while others have said they will take the tickets because it's part of their job and does not represent any impropriety. Mayor Sharon Gaetz of Chilliwack refused to accept free Olympic tickets on the grounds it could be illegal. "It's very clear that municipal politicians are not to take gifts of any kind," said Gaetz. Vancouver city councillors David Cadman and Ellen Woodsworth said they would not apply to get any of the $377,000 worth of tickets purchased by the city. "To … take money for attending events we don't have to be officially at, but which is simply a perk of position, I don't think is appropriate," Cadman said last week. Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs took the opposite position, saying he would accept tickets because it was a duty of his job to represent the city at the Games.

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan shared Meggs's view. The city of Burnaby had not purchased any tickets but Corrigan told the Burnaby NOW newspaper that the B.C. Lottery Corp. and Telus had invited him to Olympic hockey games and he had accepted. "I think it is part of my role. A lot of it is work - meeting people we do business with, making contacts," Corrigan said. Corrigan said he was always careful to weigh such invitations carefully and to declare it publicly when he had accepted them.