Statement from the Mayor: Perceived conflict of interest review

I am pleased that following a comprehensive review and legal analysis, Dominion GovLaw LLP has concluded Councillor Stutt was not in a conflict of interest regarding voting on policing matters in Surrey. Furthermore, that he acted within his public mandate and duty as an elected official of the City.

This third-party review was sought as the Surrey Ethics Commissioner’s report recognized the difficulty in arriving at the earlier conclusion that Councillor Stutt was in a “perceived” conflict of interest, going so far as to state that “others may well disagree with me.”

GovLaw LLP’s report found that Councillor Stutt made a promise to his constituents to stop the transition to SPS and any interests that may give rise to a potential conflict were not of a substantial interest.

Both reviews concluded that Councillor Stutt did not have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest; did not have a conflict with a member of his family being a member of CUPE Local402; and that Councillor Stutt acted in good faith with the intention of fulfilling a promise he made to voters during the election to maintain the services of the RCMP.

Councillor Stutt's commitment to ethical conduct throughout this process serves as a testament to his dedication to serving our community's best interests. Integrity will always prevail, and this reaffirms Council’s commitment to upholding ethical standards and serving our community with honesty and transparency. As your mayor, I have worked hard to deliver on my promise of accountability in our government, and you can count on that same dedication from our team as we move forward.

The Report can be found here.