Article content
The effort to remove Vancouver Coun. Michael Wiebe from office was launched with “heavy influence from a political party,” his lawyer told B.C. Supreme Court on Thursday.
But the opposing lawyer, representing Vancouver voters seeking Wiebe’s ouster, said any political differences were “irrelevant,” and the politician had clearly broken conflict rules by “wearing two hats” when he voted in council last year on a restaurant patio program despite owning an interest in a restaurant and a pub.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or Dan Fumano: Heavy political influence behind Vancouver councillor s conflict case, lawyer says Back to video
Article content
Vancouver Coun. Michael Wiebe is feeling confident as a court date looms with his job hanging in the balance, his lawyer says.
The case, scheduled for next week in B.C. Supreme Court, concerns allegations that Wiebe breached conflict of interest rules by voting for a city-wide restaurant patio program despite his ownership interest in a restaurant and bar. At issue will be whether Wiebe acted in good faith when he voted for the program, whether his actions were generally in the interest of Vancouver restaurants, and arguments the petition brought against him contains defects and should be thrown out.
One NPA director steps down, another sparks online anger, and the mayor is sued for defamation.
Melanie Green is a Tyee contributor. She has worked as an associate producer for the CBC and a reporter for the Star Vancouver. SHARES NPA board member Wes Mussio is among those suing the mayor for defamation. On Monday, he caught fire for tweeting he was in Florida and ‘heading to Tampa Bay for the start of Super Bowl party week’ amidst the pandemic.
Photo from a YouTube video about personal injury law.
The past two weeks have been eventful for the Non-Partisan Association.
Recent appointees add to the number of party directors who’ve espoused far-right views.
Melanie Green is a Vancouver-based journalist who has worked as an associate producer for the CBC and a reporter for the Star Vancouver. SHARES Current Non-Partisan Association board member Angelo Isidorou in 2017, flashing a symbol favoured by hate groups and wearing a Trump supporter’s hat at a protest against Trump at Jack Poole Plaza that happened the same day as the Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver opened.
Photo by Jennifer Gauthier.
Photos taken in 2017 show Angelo Isidorou, now a director of the Non-Partisan Association municipal party in Vancouver, wearing a MAGA hat and using a symbol widely considered to mean “white power.”