Apparent or potential conflict of interest involving Councillor Boisvert

Conflict of interest concerns regarding Councillor Daniel Boisvert and the Tsawwassen Town Centre redevelopment proposal

There are three types of conflicts of interest: actual, potential and apparent. Dream South Delta has concerns regarding a potential or apparent conflict of interest involving Daniel Boisvert, a City of Delta councillor and local notary public, and the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall redevelopment proposal as it makes its way through the approval process.

Transparency and adherence to ethical standards are essential in maintaining integrity in public office. To uphold public trust, Dream South Delta is urging Councillor Boisvert to recuse himself from all discussions and votes related to the redevelopment application.

Councillor Boisvert owns and operates Daniel Boisvert Notary Public, a firm specializing in real estate transactions. Given that real estate services form a substantial part of his business and his firm is the only notary in Tsawwassen, approval of the proposed Tsawwassen Town Centre mall redevelopment could directly or indirectly benefit his business. Dream South Delta believes his participation in the decision-making process creates a potential or apparent conflict of interest and raises questions about impartiality thereby diminishing public trust. Even if there is no actual conflict, a potential or apparent conflict of interest is enough to undermine the community’s confidence in the decision-making process.

According to the Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia’s ethical guidelines, notaries must avoid conflicts where personal or professional interests could interfere with public responsibilities. Similarly, the Community Charter of British Columbia prohibits council members from participating in matters where they have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest. It is common for public office holders to recuse themselves from discussions and decisions to avoid any potential or actual conflict of interest.

On March 12, 2025, Dream South Delta contacted the City of Delta, including Councillor Boisvert, with our concerns. On March 13, 2025, Councillor Boisvert replied with the following statement: “I take my personal integrity very seriously and I wanted to be sure I would not be in conflict of interest while performing my civic duties, including when considering development applications. Many months ago, I requested the City retain a lawyer with expertise in municipal government conflict of interest laws, to provide legal advice on the matter. The lawyer confirmed that I am not in a conflict of interest.”