Vancouver City Council

The following Motion was submitted by Councillor Sullivan at the Regular Council meeting following the Standing Committee on City Services & Budgets meeting on March 31, 2005. The Mayor called Notice under Section 5.4(c) of the Procedure By-law.

3. Funding for International Events

MOVER: Councillor Sam Sullivan
SECONDER:

WHEREAS:

1. The World Peace Forum is a regular international event that takes place in cities throughout the world.

2. The Peace and Justice Committee initiated an effort to have Vancouver be the venue for the 2006 Forum.

3. The city hosted two forums with hundreds of invitees at which the Mayor expressed his commitment.

4. The World Peace Forum is a very important gathering that seeks to improve the conditions for world peace.

AND WHEREAS

1. The Harm Reduction Drug Conference is a regular international event that takes place in cities throughout the world.

2. The Mayor announced in Melbourne that Vancouver would be hosting the Conference in 2007 despite having no authority from Council.

3. This Drug Conference will cost Vancouver taxpayers $500,000

4. The Harm Reduction Drug Conference is an important event which enables experts from around the world to share their experiences with harm reduction efforts.

5. There are many worthy international conferences that choose Vancouver as a venue every year.

6. The City of Vancouver could be liable for overruns that could total $1 million for both events.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mayor and Councillors be requested to refrain from committing the city to major spending on international events before public debate and approval by Council.