The District of Sechelt council is reaching out to the province for help in addressing ongoing internal problems. This decision follows a recent meeting where councillors discussed the findings of a detailed governance audit.
During its regular meeting on July 30, the council voted to ask the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs for support. The goal is to find ways to resolve conflicts and improve working relationships. However, council agreed not to mention the audit report directly in its formal request to the province.
The audit was carried out between February 26 and June 25, 2024, by George B. Cuff & Associates Ltd. The council had requested the review in February. It aimed to bring back respectful discussions both within council chambers and in the district office. The 176-page report was first released with some redactions. It is now available in full.
At the meeting, Lindsay Roberts, the district’s director of corporate and community services, reminded council that an action plan had been discussed in September 2023. She said it was important to update the public and the council on what had been completed and what remained.
“There are 26 recommendations in front of you tonight that have not been completed or are on hold,” Roberts said. “We’re looking for direction on how to move forward with them.”
Roberts also disclosed the total cost of the audit. It came to $48,216. Although the amount was not set to be made public until the 2026 budget report, Roberts shared it for the sake of openness and transparency.
The audit found that the problems faced by the current council have grown worse since it began in 2022. The report suggests a new approach is needed—one that starts with both council and senior staff, including the chief administrative officer (CAO). It also stresses the need for a sincere effort to fix problems caused by unclear roles and confusion over the mayor’s authority.
The report painted a troubling picture of dysfunction. It noted that if the council had worked as expected, things could have gone much differently. Instead, members have used up their energy dealing with inner conflict. As the report put it, “This council has spent far too much time and nervous energy trying to cope with the internal turmoil.”
It added that the lack of progress was due to poor relationships. The tension between the mayor and other councillors started soon after the 2022 election and has not eased. The report also criticized the low level of respect and trust between the mayor and the CAO.
While the formal request for help leaves out the audit’s name, it is clear that the problems highlighted in the report are at the heart of the move. The council is now looking to the province to help guide it through the challenges.
The next steps are still being decided, as council works through the audit’s 26 unfinished recommendations. How the province will respond, and what form the support may take, is yet to be seen. However, by making the request, Sechelt’s council is taking a public step toward healing long-standing internal divides.
