The Mayor of Port Coquitlam says delegates at the UBCM convention have varying opinions about the need for sponsorships in general.

Brad West says there are a number of corporations, unions, and other organizations who sponsor events during the convention week.

“You know, I get as an elected official you are going to have engagement with companies and unions and other organizations and I don’t have an issue with that provided that they are from our community, that they are Canadian.”

And while UBCM delegates voted against accepting funding from a foreign government at conventions, they did vote in favour of sponsorships in general to offset costs of the annual convention and to pay for evening receptions.

“I know my municipality pays a lot of money to UBCM and I think most municipalities do so it’s not an organization that’s been hard up for money in the past, and needs to have all of these sponsorships,” West added. “I think it’s become an accepted practice.”

West says he was also glad to see that he wasn’t the only politician with concerns about Chinese influence at the convention. Speaking out against the Chinese sponsored reception, he is hoping that this week was the last ever foreign government sponsored reception at the UBCM convention.