How Are Councillors Held Legally Responsible? THE VOTER
Council members, including the mayor, have a fiduciary responsibility in relation to the decisions they make and actions they take in that role.
How are they held to account to ensure that they are carrying out their duty properly? There are consequences for directors of corporations in the private sector. Ottawa City Council is the board of directors of the Corporation of the City of Ottawa.
Is there any way of holding them accountable? Other, that is, from kicking them out at the next election which is not really a practical or likely resolution.
There has to be something otherwise what’s the point of those responsibilities existing? Why even bother?
The Voter is a respected community activist and long-time Bulldog commenter who prefers to keep her identity private.
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And therein lies the rub. Politicians set the rules for how other politicians are held to account (or not) for their failures to meet a very low standard. Much like the proverbial fox setting the rules for access to the hen house.
The province can take over administration and remove Council. This was done in 1933 in Prince Rupert BC for 9 years. (the city was bankrupt). The administrator turned things around and a new council was elected in 1942.
But do they actually have a fiduciary responsibility to their constituents?
While it should be, I don’t think that concept is in the legislation or the associated regulations.
If it was, tax payers could sue councillors for failure to do proper due diligence, a la Lansdowne.