*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
Delta, BC – September 1, 2025
DREAM South Delta, a community advocacy group dedicated to promoting responsible growth, ethical governance, and accountability in local decision-making, today called on the City of Delta to implement a comprehensive disclosure policy mirroring the progressive steps being taken by North Cowichan. This push for enhanced transparency comes in response to North Cowichan’s upcoming motion to require councillors to publicly report interactions with developers, lobbyists, and land-use consultants, as well as campaign donations from entities with financial interests in municipal land-use matters.
In North Cowichan, the proposed policy addresses longstanding resident concerns about the potential influence of external interests on council decisions, especially amid major development applications involving millions of dollars. Mayor Rob Douglas emphasized the importance of combating perceptions of secrecy and favoritism, noting, “It’s really about public trust and transparency. We’re dealing with some big development applications right now. In many cases, there’s millions, if not tens of millions of dollars at stake.” Under the policy, councillors would disclose details of meetings—including participants, dates, locations, and topics—and maintain a public log on the district’s website. It also allows for recusal from decisions involving potential conflicts with donors, with Mayor Douglas advocating for retroactive application since the 2022 election.
Douglas further highlighted the policy’s dual purpose: “The idea of this policy is to improve transparency and provide those clear guidelines for council as we approach some of these major decisions. There’s a lot at stake here.” He added that even the appearance of undue influence can undermine public confidence, stating, “Perception is important here, because even the appearance of it can not only damage council’s reputation, but undermine public confidence in our decision making.” This initiative is driven by North Cowichan’s unique position, facing heightened development pressures due to its location and the broader provincial push for affordable housing.
DREAM South Delta sees strong parallels in Delta, where rapid urban growth and land-use decisions similarly involve high-stakes developments that demand unwavering public trust. “North Cowichan’s forward-thinking approach sets a vital precedent for municipalities across British Columbia,” said Mark Schoeffel, a spokesperson for DREAM South Delta. “We call on Delta’s council to urgently adopt a similar policy, mandating full disclosure of councillor meetings with developers and lobbyists, along with public reporting of relevant campaign contributions. This would safeguard against conflicts of interest, protect elected officials, and ensure decisions prioritize community needs over private gains.”
By following North Cowichan’s lead, the City of Delta can foster greater accountability, rebuild resident confidence, and align with growing demands for ethical governance in the face of development challenges. DREAM South Delta encourages residents to attend council meetings and advocate for this change to promote a more open and trustworthy local government.
For more information, contact DREAM South Delta at info@dreamsouthdelta.org.
