Media

Below is a partial list of media coverage from the citizen-launched legal action asking the B.C. Supreme Court to review the possibility that Gregor Robertson and Geoff Meggs were in conflict of interest in the November 15, 2014 civic election. The sequence below is post-hearing, then Day 2 (April 1), then Day 1 (March 31, 2015). Readers might find other articles by using a news listing page like http://www.news.google.com and searching for key words Robertson, Meggs and court. For the chronology, background, audio recordings, and earlier media coverage, see our main story here https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/cases/robertson-meggs/. Robertson and Meggs’ side is funded by their political party, Vision Vancouver. The petitioners’ side is funded by a broad base of citizens from across Vancouver.

1. POST-HEARING MEDIA

• Judge reserves decision on conflict of interest case against Mayor and Meggs (by Bob Mackin, Vancouver Courier, 2-April-2015):
  http://www.vancourier.com/news/judgereservesdecisiononconflictofinterestcaseagainstmayorandmeggs1.1812815 (RECOMMENDED: GOOD SUMMARY)
• Pete McMartin: Order in the court! The palace coup is now in session – Group of concerned citizens hope to depose of city rulers (by Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun, 2-April-2015:http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Pete+McMartin+Order+court+palace+coup+session/10939133/story.html
• Asking for donations, promising stuff to donors – the Supreme Court asked to figure out if that’s conflict (Frances Bula blog, 2-April-2015): http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized/asking-for-donations-promising-stuff-to-donors-the-supreme-court-asked-to-figure-out-if-thats-conflict/

2. DAY 2 MEDIA (April 1, 2015)

The hearing ended at about 2:30 pm. Justice Myers has reserved judgement. A decision may come within a month.

• Vancouver mayor’s lawyer calls court petitioners bunch of ‘do-gooders’  – MetroNews Canada – ‎April 1, 2015, Emily Jackson. The lawsuit vying to oust Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillor Geoff Meggs from office was filed by “do-gooders” and is a waste of time and resources, the politicians’ lawyer argued in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday. Five citizens, including Randy … http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/1329569/vancouver-mayors-lawyer-calls-court-petitioners-bunch-of-do-gooders/
• Coun. Meggs only stated Vision’s long-standing support for labour, lawyer argues –The Province  – Keith Fraser- ‎1-April-2015, In a petition filed in court, five citizens allege that the speech, made just prior to last November’s civic elections, put Meggs and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson in a conflict of interest and should result in their ouster from office. But lawyer Bryan Baynham … http://www.theprovince.com/Coun+Meggs+only+stated+Vision+long+standing+support+labour+lawyer+argues/10938585/story.html
• Lawyer for mayor, councillor slams conflict-of-interest allegations – CKNW News Talk 980 – ‎1-April-2015‎; It’s a desperate ploy to salvage something out of a case that should never have made its way to court. That, from the lawyer representing Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillor Geoff Meggs, who is now defending them against conflict-of-interest … http://www.cknw.com/2015/04/01/70298/
• Lawyer for Robertson, Meggs wants ‘desperate’ court action tossed – Vancouver Sun – ‎Kelly Sinoski (April 1, 2015) The lawyer representing Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Coun. Geoff Meggs in a conflict-of-interest case urged the judge Wednesday to throw out the court action, saying it was “ill-conceived and totally inappropriate.” Bryan Baynham argued … http://www.vancouversun.com/Lawyer+Robertson+Meggs+wants+desperate+court+action+tossed/10938998/story.html (NOTE: The Vancouver Sun in this article puts an emphasis on the respondents’ side of the story.)

3. DAY 1 MEDIA (March 31, 2015)

• B.C. still the wild west when it comes to campaign financing rules (by columnist Brian Hutchinson in the National Post, 31-March-2015) (with video):
  http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/brian-hutchinson-b-c-still-the-wild-west-when-it-comes-to-campaign-financing-rules (RECOMMENDED: GOES TO THE CORE ISSUES. But one correction. Mr. Hutchinson writes “The province legislates municipal election financing; it is to consider new spending and donation limits before the next civic elections are held in 2018.” Actually, the province is NOT considering donation limits. Many people see the Province’s failure to deal with donations as a serious problem. Any entity from anywhere in the world can currently donate an unlimited amount of money to any municipal politician or party.)
• Recording central in petition to oust Vancouver mayor, councillor: Court hears, MetroNews Canada – Lawyers argued Tuesday over the validity of an audio recording at the centre of a petition to remove Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Councillor Geoff Meggs from office. The B.C. Supreme Court petition to remove the politicians stems from a $34,000 … http://metronews.ca/news/vancouver/1328438/recording-central-in-petition-to-oust-vancouver-mayor-councillor-court-hears/

• Lawyer says BC mayor, councillor were in conflict of interest over union jobs, The Globe and Mail – ‎David Wotherspoon, a lawyer from the firm Fasken Martineau, told a B.C. Supreme Court judge Tuesday that the actions of Mayor Gregor Robertson and councillor Geoff Meggs during last fall’s election campaign put them in a conflict of interest that could … http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/lawyer-says-bc-mayor-councillor-were-in-conflict-of-interest-over-union-jobs/article23731057/

• Judge begins ruling on affidavits against Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Vancouver Sun – ‎ VANCOUVER — The lawyer for Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Coun. Geoff Meggs wants a secret digital recording at the centre of a conflict of interest case thrown out of court. The lawyer, Bryan Baynham, has already been successful in having … http://www.vancouversun.com/Judge+begins+ruling+affidavits+against+Vancouver+Mayor+Gregor+Robertson/10935154/story.html

• Lawyers begin arguments in court action seeking to overturn reelection of Mayor … Straight.com – ‎‎ Robertson and Meggs’s counsel Bryan Baynham sought to undermine the value of the recording in his opening statement today (March 31) at the B.C. Supreme Court. The petitioners’ lawyer David Wotherspoon told the court that the case at its core is about … http://www.straight.com/news/421181/lawyers-begin-arguments-court-action-seeking-overturn-reelection-mayor-gregor-robertson

• Lawyer argues audio recording should have significant weight in case against … The Province – ‎ WITH VIDEO Meggs was in court Monday but declined to comment on the proceedings. However in documents filed in court, Robertson and Meggs say that nothing in the petition or the affidavits establishes that they acted in a conflict of interest or may have had a direct or … http://www.theprovince.com/technology/Lawyer+argues+audio+recording+should+have+significant+weight+case+against+Robertson+Meggs/10935793/story.html

• Former Vancouver mayoral candidate trying to get Robertson out of office via … News1130 – … CUPE Local 1004 and related union bodies right after promising not to contract out city services puts Robertson and City Councillor Geoff Meggs in a conflict of interest, according to Randy Helton in a petition filed in BC Supreme Court set to be heard today. http://www.news1130.com/2015/03/31/former-vancouver-mayoral-candidate-trying-to-get-robertson-out-of-office-via-courts/

• UPDATED: Lawyer for Vancouver mayor, councillor wants secret recording … CKNW News Talk 980 – ‎WITH AUDIO The secret audio recording at the allegations should not be allowed as evidence, according to Mayor Robertson and Councillor Geoff Meggs. That’s part of the arguments, now underway in B.C. Supreme Court in a case that could see Vancouver Mayor … http://www.cknw.com/2015/03/31/70075/

• Gregor Robertson in court over conflict of interest allegations – CBC.ca – ‎‎ The matter is being heard this morning in B.C. Supreme Court. Lead petitioner Randy Helten claims the donation occurred after Vision councillor Geoff Meggs said at a meeting the mayor would not contract out more jobs. “To us, it looks like a conflict of … http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/gregor-robertson-in-court-over-conflict-of-interest-allegations-1.3016334