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No more foreign receptions at UBCM convention

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie attended the China Consul General's reception this fall.
UBCM
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie was at a reception sponsored by the Chinese government at the annual UBCM conference.

A reception sponsored by China at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention is a thing of the past after a decision by the executive to not allow foreign-sponsored events at future conventions.

The event came under heavy fire this year as tensions grow with pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and the detention of two Canadians in China.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie defended his decision to attend the reception this year, saying he would rather keep open lines of communication with China, but also calling their human rights record “questionable.”

No other Richmond councillors attended the reception this year.

An independent panel was struck in July to review the financing and sponsorship of the convention that draws municipally elected officials from across the province.

On Wednesday, the UBCM executive approved the panel’s recommendation, one of which was that “Foreign governments will not be permitted to sponsor/finance any UBCM Convention events such as receptions and other networking opportunities.”

Richmond Coun. Linda McPhail, who was on the executive during the past year, pointed out UBCM is a “member-driven” organization and a vote this year showed support for not having foreign sponsorship at the convention.

“The membership has spoken and I think it was the right thing to do,” she said.

Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West held a rally outside the convention centre just before the reception sponsored by the Chinese Consul General, highlighting issues like the detention of the two Canadians in China, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, as well as the plight of the Uyghur people, a Muslim minority in western China that has been subjected to human-rights abuses.

Union and corporate financing and sponsorship will be allowed at the convention.