A Moment with the Mayor: What is Conflict of Interest?

A common question I receive from residents is about conflict of interest at council meetings: What is it, and how is it managed?

Conflict of interest is taken very seriously by both the elected members of city council and city staff. At the start of every council meeting and Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) meeting, each member of Council is reminded to declare any potential conflict of interest or pecuniary interest (financial gain or loss) relating to the proposed agenda items. Council members are responsible for voluntarily declaring any such interests and advising the chair that they will excuse themselves from discussing or voting on the affected item(s).

You may be wondering, how is a conflict of interest or pecuniary interest determined for council members? Prior to each meeting, members receive a council package containing all relevant information for the upcoming session, which is also available online on the city’s website at Lloydminster.ca/Agenda. If a council member stands to gain financially, or non-financially or has a personal vested interest in the decision to be made, they must declare a conflict. Members must also disclose if their regular employment or volunteer activities could be impacted by the discussions and decisions made by council. This ensures that all discussions and votes are conducted impartially, focusing solely on what is best for the community.

City council members undergo extensive training on the issue of conflict of interest. We are committed to ensuring that every discussion held in council chambers is free from bias and conflict of interest, so we can make well-informed decisions that serve the best interests of the community.

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding council matters. You can contact me directly via email at mayor@lloydminster.ca or by letter.

Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers
City of Lloydminster