Fundamentally Unsound Practises in Ottawa

It just does not pass the smell test. And that being so, it should be set aside. "It", being the hiring of a consultant who simply has too many fingers in too many pies, all of which look intriguingly as though preferential treatment is given him in acknowledgement of his insider-knowledge status, at the same time permitting him the kind of influence in decision-making that wafts a foul odour.

The man is described as a senior executive at Plasco Energy Group. One who has companionable collegial and business ties with Mayor Jim Watson and provincial Infrastructure Minister Bob Chiarelli. He is a familiar figure as a consultant at Ottawa City Hall. And has been negotiating over a long-term contract with Plasco Energy to dispose of city garbage.

Brian Guest, through his Boxfish Group consulting company, has been involved in OC Transpo, giving advice on the route changes, on changes to the light-rail plan, and on the city budget. His sister is employed as a senior aide to the City Manager. And her husband is an aide to the deputy city manager. Who just happens to oversee the city's garbage collection and disposal.

Conflict of interest? Heavens, what makes you draw that conclusion? Mr. Guest has a long-standing contract with Plasco, about six years, all the while it has been exploring the potential for "plasma gasification", turning waste product into energy. And a deal is on the cusp of being struck with the city.

Plasco's chief executive, Rob Bryden, describes Mr. Guest as part of his company's "senior executive team". Yet he also has consulting contracts with the City of Ottawa, revolving around this very subject; the city's disposal of waste collection, and the feasibility of turning it into an energy source through Plasco's gasification capabilities.

Sensible heads on City Council should recognize a conflict when it is so readily apparent. The city manager does acknowledge the potential for perceived conflict of interest. "It's a unique confluence of roles and timing that can present the potential for a perceived conflict of interest, but I'm confident that one in fact has not existed."

This man has been hired to act on behalf of the taxpaying public of the city, who pay his salary, whose taxes, a burden too heavy to casually dismiss as an issue, also pay for the consulting salary of those whose self-interest can be enhanced through such conflicts. And while it's touching that he feels confident that there is no conflict of interest, despite the obvious setting for one, that's simply not good enough.

The intelligent decision would be to make a choice for a change in consultants, to exclude the potential for real or perceived conflict of interest. City council is reliant on the intelligent judgement and professionalism of city employees, particularly those who have the elite positions of operating vital municipal structures.

And they should themselves take the responsibility that the elections impose upon them to represent the best interests of the municipality and those who support it with their tax dollars.