Government accountability watchdog calls for end to free concert tickets for city councillors
A recent investigation by CBC News has raised concerns about the practice of municipal governments receiving free tickets to events hosted at public venues. The investigation, which was prompted by a former federal cabinet minister accepting tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, revealed that municipalities in British Columbia have been receiving hundreds of complimentary tickets worth thousands of dollars to events held at taxpayer-funded arenas and theatres.
Documents obtained through freedom of information requests show that cities like Kelowna, Prince George, and Kamloops have been given free tickets to shows at their public venues. For example, the City of Kelowna received complimentary tickets to performances by artists like Tenille Townes and Paul Brandt, while the City of Prince George was given tickets to concerts by Elton John and Sarah McLachlan. Similarly, the City of Kamloops received free tickets to a Bryan Adams concert as part of an agreement to use its public arena, Sandman Centre.
The investigation also found that the tickets were typically given to mayor and council members, city staff, media outlets, non-profits, and volunteers. While some tickets were used for promotional purposes or gifted to community groups, there were instances where elected officials accepted the free tickets.
Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, criticized the practice of cities receiving free tickets in secret, stating that it is unethical for city politicians and staff to profit personally from public facilities. He raised concerns about the potential for these free tickets to be used to buy relationships or favors.
While some cities like Kelowna, Prince George, and Victoria track who receives the tickets, Kamloops does not. The City of Kamloops also charged fees, required third-party approval, and redacted information about free tickets from contracts during the freedom of information request process.
One significant case uncovered by the investigation involved free tickets provided to Kamloops council members for the Memorial Cup, a national hockey championship. City emails revealed that council members were offered two tickets to each game and event with drinks, valued at over $600 each. Despite questions about the value of the tickets, some council members accepted them, citing the importance of hosting the event in their city.
Conacher emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in municipal gift-giving practices, stating that events important enough for city staff or council members to attend should be paid for by the city. He called for an end to the practice of providing free tickets, citing concerns about the potential for favoritism or unethical behavior.
Overall, the investigation highlights the need for greater oversight and transparency in how municipalities receive and distribute free tickets to events at public venues. By ensuring that gift-giving practices are transparent and ethical, cities can uphold the integrity of their public facilities and avoid any conflicts of interest.
