The back and forth between Councillor Peter Ladner and Senator Larry Campbell continues! Earlier, we noted Councillor Ladner had accused the former mayor of mismanaged preparations for an international peace conference - a claim disputed by Senator Campbell in an email leaked to your humble organ. But, in a comment posted on Public Eye last night, Councillor Ladner stood by his accusations, again noting that there was "no official invitation (for the conference) sent out during the ensuing nine months, no budget prepared, no sponsor sold, no work at all done on the project." And he added Mayor Sam Sullivan's staff telephoned International Association of Peace Messenger Cities president Alfred Marder after it became apparent the even cost would balloon to $200,000. And, during that call, staff "offered him a scaled-down project that would fit the $50,000 budget (approved by the city). He refused." That funding has since been cancelled by Non-Partisan Association councillors. The following is a complete copy of Councillor Ladner's posting.

Name: Peter Ladner
Email Address: peter.ladner@vancouver.ca
Comments:

I enjoyed Larry Campbell's reflections on his first 60 days spending $600,000 on an Olympic plebiscite, but back to the issue of the Mayors for Peace conference. Council's March, 2005 vote determined it was to be hosted and organized by the mayor's office. It was Clr. Cadman who told a meeting of the Peace and Justice Committee that the previous mayor's office "lost" the file. If it wasn't lost, it might as well have been. Why was no official invitation sent out during the ensuing nine months, no budget prepared, no sponsor sold, no work at all done on the project except one phone call to the Sandman Inn by Clr Cadman?

Mayor Sullivan's staff did call Mr. Marder and offered him a scaled-down project that would fit the $50,000 budget. He refused.

It's very easy for Mr. Marder to tell us we could organize the event for $50,000, when we'd be on the hook for any overruns. Show me how we can host 100 people for five nights, 1,200 meals, 800 coffee-break snacks, 100-plus trips to the airport, a couple of receptions, meeting rooms, A-V, organizer's salary, in-town transportation, security and speaker fees for $50,000. The Wosk Centre alone, listed in Mr. Marder's "budget" at $2,400, rents for around $11,000.

Peter Ladner