A conflict-of-interest investigation has found Councillor Krista Balsom inadvertently breached the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
Balsom, president of Balsom Communications declared a pecuniary interest to the communications and stakeholder relations budget, as her marketing firm does work for RMWB entities.
“I further sought input as per process on some Community Investment Program grant requests within the budget as I felt I might have conflicts due to my companies work in the community,” said Balsom.
“After this was reviewed, I was advised by RMWB legal counsel I was not in conflict to vote on the matter. I then proceeded on what I perceived was the best legal advice available to me and did participate in the votes on the grant program requests.”
An anonymous whistleblower complaint set off the independent third party review, that determined Balsom did in fact breach the MGA by voting on grant applications through the Community Investment Program.
“I, in no way intentionally breached the MGA or did so in a malicious way. I made the decision to vote on these matters, like my previous vote on the RMWB budget, based on what I believed was the appropriate legal advice,” said Balsom.
“I have since come to understand that the advice I received was in fact wrong and these votes and participation in debate on them were an error that I have since recognized to my colleagues and now to all of you, the residents of our region.”
The whistleblower complaint will be further discussed at the council meeting on Tuesday.
The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Jubilee Plaza or can be live streamed on the municipality’s website.
