Government accountability watchdog calls for end to free concert tickets for city councillors [Video]

A democracy watchdog is questioning the practice of municipal governments receiving free tickets to events hosted at public venues, following a CBC News investigation.

Access to free tickets has been under scrutiny after a former federal cabinet minister accepted tickets from a Crown corporation to see Taylor Swift during the Eras Tour. 

Documents obtained by CBC News through freedom of information requests show municipalities with taxpayer-funded arenas and theatres in British Columbia have received hundreds of complimentary tickets worth thousands of dollars to events hosted at their facilities.

Facility-use agreements between the City of Kelowna and Live Nation Canada show seven complimentary tickets were allotted to the city for Tenille Townes, Darcy and Jer and Paul Brandt and Terri Clarke. The events were held at the Kelowna Community Theatre, owned by the city.

LISTEN | CBC investigates cities getting free tickets: Big shows like Bryan Adams come with perks—dozens of free tickets go to the city. Jessica Wallace finds out who actually receives them.

Forty tickets were routinely given to the City of Prince …