TRUTH IS USED TO HIDE THE TRUTH

 How Cities Use the Truth to Hide the Truth

An editorial by Voice of Nanaimo

Sometimes the most effective way to hide the truth is not to lie, but to tell it—just in a way that no one can understand. In both the legal world and the world of municipal finance, this tactic is alive and well. It’s called document dumping in courtrooms. In city hall, it’s called the budget.

The Overload Strategy

When cities release their annual budgets, financial plans, and SOFI reports, they’re technically telling the truth. All the numbers are there. The problem is that they’re buried in hundreds of pages of spreadsheets, line items, and department codes that only a financial analyst could love—or understand.

Instead of a clear picture, what the public gets is a flood of information without context. There’s no easy way to compare year-over-year numbers, no per capita breakdowns, and no inflation adjustments. It’s a wall of data that’s accurate but unreadable. And that’s the point.

Why It Works

This strategy works because it overwhelms and discourages any serious examination. City councillors, already stretched thin, often don’t have the expertise—or time—to dig through the numbers. Journalists on deadline are lucky to skim a few highlights. And ordinary residents? They’re simply shut out of the conversation.

In the end, this wall of complexity protects the status quo. It shields inflated budgets, questionable contracts, and runaway wage growth from real scrutiny. No lies needed. Just too much truth, all at once, and none of it explained.

The Illusion of Transparency

City hall can proudly say it’s being transparent. After all, the documents are posted online, right? But information without clarity is not transparency. It’s obfuscation. And it works beautifully—until someone takes the time to translate the numbers into plain English.

Why Voice of Nanaimo Exists

That’s where we come in. Voice of Nanaimo exists to decode, distill, and expose what’s buried in those budget binders. We believe numbers tell a story—and we’re here to tell it plainly, loudly, and often. Because the public deserves to understand how their money is being spent, and who really benefits.

If you’ve ever felt like city reports were designed to confuse you, you’re not wrong. But you’re also not alone. Keep reading. Keep asking questions. And stay tuned.