Nova Scotia residents are no longer allowed to file complaints against their municipal elected officials, a decision that has been criticized as undemocratic. The province recently implemented changes to the municipal code of conduct based on feedback from municipalities. One major change specifies that only a council member from the same municipality as the subject of the complaint can file a complaint.
Pam Mood, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and mayor of the Town of Yarmouth, emphasized the importance of establishing a clear definition for frivolous complaints to ensure consistency among independent investigators handling municipal complaints. She acknowledged that while the removal of public complaints may be temporary, it was a necessary step to ensure the code is utilized as intended.
Several municipalities reported an influx of complaints following the implementation of the provincewide code last year. Mood highlighted the need for standard procedures to address complaints that may arise from personal bias or disagreements over council decisions.
The revised code of conduct also prohibits council members from submitting complaints on behalf of others and allows investigators to consolidate similar complaints for a single investigation. These changes come on the heels of complaints against Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore for allegedly making misleading statements about a chief administrative officer.
While some residents expressed concerns about the limitation on public complaints, Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr defended the decision, citing the ongoing learning process to improve the system. However, critics like Duff Conacher from Democracy Watch have condemned the move as anti-democratic and unethical, advocating for an independent provincial office to handle municipal complaints.
Despite the current restrictions, citizens can still hold council members accountable through the electoral process. The province aims to collaborate with the municipal federation to enhance the code of conduct and address concerns raised by residents and advocates like Mood and Conacher.
Overall, the changes to the municipal code of conduct in Nova Scotia have sparked debate over the balance between accountability and democratic principles, with stakeholders urging for transparency and fairness in addressing complaints against elected officials.