Chinese government reception for B.C. politicians to go ahead as planned

After a month of blowback, theUnion of B.C. Municipalities has reaffirmed its decision to allow China's annual reception for local B.C. politicians to proceed this year.

"There's some folks who believe it shouldn't happen. Some folks who think it should happen. So given the fact we've already decided to do it, we're saying we'll go with that for this year," said UBCMpresident Arjun Singh, in announcing the decision.

The reception, paid for by China, has taken place every year since 2012 at the annual UBCMconference, where hundreds of mayors and councillors meet for a week to learn best practices and pass resolutions lobbying the provincial government.

The reception is an optional meet-and-greet event where people can swap business cards and eat appetizers, but the Chinese Consulate has paid $6,000 to be an official part of the conferenceand be advertised in its program.

In addition to announcing the reception would go ahead as planned, the UBCM also said it would review the money it receives, "including sponsorship revenue," used to fund the annual convention in future years.

"We see the current debate as an opportunity to review practices for financing the convention that have been in place for a generation," said Singh.

Cross-country tensions

The UBCM's original decision to let the reception continue was criticizedgiven the arrestand ongoing detention of two Canadians in China.

BusinessmanMichael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrigwere detained in separate incidents late last year, shortly afterHuawei chief financial officerMeng Wanzhouwas arrested in Vancouveron a U.S. extradition warrant.

Chief among the critics of the reception had been Port Coquitlam Mayor Brad West, who pushed people upset with the UBCM's original decision to contact the executive with their thoughts.

"I don't think that locally elected mayors and city councillors should be accepting a sponsor of financial sponsorship for an event from a foreign government, period, but particularly from a foreign government that has such an egregious human rights record," he said on The Early Edition on Friday, prior tothe announcement being made.

After hearing the UBCM's decision, West was dismissive of their choice to appoint a panel to look at changes for future years.

"It shouldn't take a panel of a bunch of politicians and ex-politicians to advise some other politicians that taking money from a hostile foreign government is wrong. That is obvious I think to almost everyone, but apparently they need a panel to let themknow that," he said.

"It's just, I think, a complete embarrassment and a cop-out, and it shows a real lack of leadership."