Vancouver city councillor David Cadman's travels face cuts

As international president of ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability, Vancouver city councillor David Cadman told the Georgia Straight that he offers the city “positioning and involvement in Copenhagen” this December.

However, that hasn't stopped Metro Vancouver finance committee members from scoffing at his request for $7,749.25 to cover air travel, six nights accommodation, Metro director fees, and “meals and incidentals” for the upcoming UN climate talks. The Metro Vancouver board referred the matter to the finance committee, which meets Thursday (November 12).

Burnaby councillor Colleen Jordan, vice chair of the finance committee, chuckled when the Straight asked about what she called “the Cadman saga”. She said that Metro was supportive of Cadman when he was a rep with ICLEI. However, she said that once he joined the executive and then became president, this “increased exponentially” the costs to Metro Vancouver.

“For several years up until this spring, the majority of directors supported that; well, we did say that he was our representative and we respected his position and what he had done,” Jordan, former CUPE B.C. secretary treasurer, said by phone. “And we said that we'd take on the costs associated with it, but this year for the conference and the convention, I think the recommendations from the finance committee—supported by the board—said, ”˜Enough, already, that's the end of it.' ”

Cadman told the Straight that at the upcoming COP15 UN climate-change conference in Copenhagen from December 7 to 18, leaders will “try and thrash out a post-Kyoto framework”. Within that time frame, ICLEI is meeting as an executive board from December 10 to 14 in Copenhagen. Cadman said COP15 delegates will try to agree on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions levels by 30 percent (below 1990 levels) by 2020, with an agreement of 80 percent by 2050 (also below 1990 levels).

In a letter to Metro chair Lois Jackson, Cadman noted he was reelected to a third term to the ICLEI executive by more than 1,100 municipal members. In June he was reelected to a second three-year term as ICLEI president.

After selling his credentials, Cadman wrote that he would be eligible for a business-class nine-hour flight. However, he wrote that he could not support an outlay of $6,291.95 and instead quoted an economy fare of $1,455.95.

“If you were to do a Freedom of Information [request], and see how other people have flown for other conferences that they've attended, and what that has cost the public purse, you'd find that I'm a bargain,” Cadman said. “This request is the basic request. They've nominated me and I've been elected as a member of the executive board [of ICLEI]. They've refused to pay for any duties for me as the president of this organization, which they had done in the previous term of office. So now I'm saying, ”˜Are you prepared—yes or no—to respect the nomination that
you nominated me for?' ”

So far it seems to be a no, as Richmond mayor and committee chair Malcolm Brodie confirmed to the Straight by phone. “I believe that the bang is limited,” he said.

City of North Vancouver councillor Craig Keating, also on the committee, told the Straight the Metro board has had disagreements pertaining to Cadman and his work with ICLEI. Keating said his own position on the finance committee has been to “tighten things up” in that area.

Cadman has already said “it doesn't matter” if the Metro finance committee shows him the hand or offer raised digits. “I'm going anyway,” he said. “I'm not prepared to welch on my responsibilities, having been elected to the executive board, having been elected as the president of this organization, and doing all the work that I do to bring about positioning and involvement in Copenhagen. I'm not prepared to say, ”˜Oh, well, for $1,400, I'm not prepared to go.' I've already bought the ticket.”