The Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) announced the departure of current CEO Lee Malleau in a press release on January 4th, 2013. Joan Elangovan will assume the role of CEO until a permanent replacement is found in a search. Ms. Malleau will leave around the end of month and start work for the Calgary Economic Commission after four years at VEC.
In the course of looking for a new CEO, there’s an opportunity to make the organization fare more transparent and accountable. At the March 27, 2012 Council meeting, a $2.9 million funding request for VEC was approved. Councillor George Affleck was opposed, and his comments can be found in the post Accountability for the Vancouver Economic Commission (on the NPA website). Affleck stated: “It is unknown and unknowable how the Commission’s money is spent, as there is no reporting and no accountability.” The VEC covered part of the costs of the $100,000 trip to the London Summer Olympics by Mayor Robertson and his team (see the Vancouver Sun article: Vancouver to spend $100,000 to send seven, including mayor, to Olympics to lure London investors or another article in the Vancouver Courier)
We’ve already raised a number of questions about the openness and accountability in VEC (link here), we’ve reproduced and adapted part of the post below:
The Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC) is an organization funded by taxpayers and has its members appointed by council. Yet little is known about its day-to-day operations, as the meetings of this organization are off limits to the public. Unlike other civic agencies, there are no minutes, meetings or agendas available for VEC online. VEC was responsible for organizing the Cities Summit on February 1-2, 2012. VEC delivers an annual update at Council. Councillor George Affleck asked a series of pertinent questions at a council meeting on January 31st (2012); please see the video for details:
Councillor Adriane Carr also used her full 5 minutes to ask Ms. Malleau questions on January 31st, 2012. Malleau revealed that VEC has never looked into risks from increased oil tanker traffic in the port.
Economic NOT Ecomonic ? in title
On Sun, Jan 6, 2013 at 1:35 PM, CityHallWatch: Tools for engagement in Vancouver city decisions, creating our future.
You’re fast. Thanks for the heads-up. The title was actually corrected just a few minutes after the article went live (you might be seeing this mistake if you have a feed).