Back in 2004, the City of Vancouver hired Tom Osdoba as its first sustainability manager. Mr. Osdoba, a founding principal of Portland environmental strategy firm E4 Partners Inc., was quite a catch for the city. Prior to becoming a consultant, he worked for the Minnesota government in "several capacities, from policy analyst to a strategic manager for the Office of Environmental Assistance." So Vancouver Courier readers may have been surprised to learn Mr. Osdoba was, according to a receptionist at the sustainability office, allegedly "fired with cause" last week.

In an exclusive interview with Public Eye, Mr. Osdoba explained, "I don't want to get too much into the details of what happened" - since, at the time of his departure, he was already in the process of moving on to become managing director of the Canada Carbon Trust. "So there was a lot of overlap and transition. And I think that overlap and transition got in the middle of making a simple, easy exit with the city."

"They had some issues they wanted to talk to me about," continued Mr. Osdoba. "And I was offering a resignation. And I think that's still being clarified what that's going to look like."

And did that exit having anything to do with differences over the city's current sustainability policies? "We're all trying to do the same thing," responded Mr. Osdoba. "Part of my job is to bring change to the city. And that's never an easy task. And I think that's probably enough said on the topic. I would prefer we focus on the positive opportunities. Because the city is pretty committed to sustainability. And they're going to be able to attract some real good quality people to replace me and some other staff who left."