City Should Buy Box at Scotia Bank Place

Posted by Blake in Weekly PostsJun 12th, 2007 | 3 responses

I can’t say that I am against city employees going to Senators’ games as guests of contractors.  These social times between business partners are crucial to understanding the motivation behind the workings of an organization.  Information is gathered on both sides of the contract divide and can be very helpful in securing a well oiled relationship between the buyer and the seller.

We are dealing with adults here and we pay them good salaries to protect taxpayers’ interests.  That being the case, I certainly trust they won’t sign a bad deal for the city over a good one just because the bad vendor took them to a hockey game.

It is somewhat a double standard that elected officials can go to a game (with which I also do not have a problem) but city employees can’t.  I’ve heard the defence that elected officials answer to the voters but, as a voter, I don’t know when and with whom my councillor attends games…and I have seen her at a few…in a box!

I think the key is that these invitations are publicly declared.  That way, it’s on the table and above board.  And this rule should apply to both employees and elected officials.  All they have to do is report a game or other gift and that’s enough.

In closing, business is a two way street and information flows both ways to the benefit of all parties involved.  Maybe the city should look and buying its own box to host vendors and other guests that could help Ottawa prosper.



3 Responses to “City Should Buy Box at Scotia Bank Place”

  1. Denise says:
    June 12, 2007 at 12:55 pm

    Entertainment expenses go hand in hand with results.

    The problem, as I see it, is that there is no direct accountability for budgets or results and so it is difficult to give them free reign on the other side of the coin.

    In private sector, you are able to wine and dine clients and accept invitations from vendors. All in the name of building relationships and securing business deals, getting results. The difference is that you are directly accountable for budget, revenues/results and we are all aware of what happens, in private sector, when we do not meet them. This is sensible business practice since the expense can only be justified with the results.

    Until we are able to make city employees accountable for results, I just cannot see how they can be encouraged to be responsible for these types of expenses. The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour and we have seen too many examples of lack of results, accountablity and over spending at the city. Unless there are changes that incorporate measurable results and accountability, I just don’t see the city owning a box at Scotia as a good investment and would suggest that the entertainment spending restraints need to continue to be very tight. You just can’t have one without the other.

  2. Greater Ottawa says:
    June 12, 2007 at 1:04 pm

    Around the blogroll…

    Pic by Ashley Fraser, The Ottawa Citizen Some new links over there on the right. Check ‘em out. Closing…

  3. Doug Edwards says:
    June 12, 2007 at 2:38 pm

    Blake, these are two of the dumbest ideas to come along in a while. The city should not be buying a box. With the possible and rare exception of the Mayor needing to entertain visiting dignitaries, no city or official should be taking vendors or other third parties to hockey games. City employees have a pretty good record of rarely demonstrating either good judgement or intrgrity, and they should be absolutely forbidden from taking bribes of hockey tickets from vendors looking to sell something to the city.