Oct. 14, 2021
The R.M. of McKillop has published audio recordings of the Sept. 14 and Sept. 28 council meetings to their website. The public can find the recordings under the council meetings tab.
The publication comes after the R.M. stopped the public from viewing its proceedings on Jul. 13, only allowing attending members of the public to listen to an audio feed of the proceedings. Reeve Bob Schmidt said that the council had made the decision for the change.
Following public backlash and a public consultation process which revealed the #1 concern for ratepayers was communication and transparency, the R.M.’s Chief Administrative Officer Brandi Morisette said the R.M. had heard the public and returned to offering viewing of the meetings and had also started to record meetings which would be put up on the website. The first meeting to be recorded was on Aug. 10, with the public able to view the meetings again on Aug. 24.
The R.M. has included a disclaimer on the recordings page: “As a strong proponent of municipal government transparency, the R.M. of McKillop No. 220 (“R.M.”)will be been posting the audio recordings...” “...the R.M. retains copyright and ownership in all audio recordings...(they) may not be copied, distributed, modified, altered, re-used...republished without the express prior written permission of the R.M...”
It goes on the read, “The content of these audio files are not generally censored by the R.M....” But doesn’t give mention of what indication they will have if something has been censored or otherwise removed. The disclaimer continues, “...and the R.M. is not liable for, and does not necessarily endorse, any of the statements contained within the audio recordings.”
The disclaimer also states that in the public forum, members of the public should “...refrain making vexatious or inflammatory statements, including making allegations against, members of Council, Administration or R.M. staff, within that context.” It goes on to say, “Should a member of the public wish to raise issues or concerns with respect to members of Council, Administration or R.M. staff, we strongly encourage that those matters be raised in the appropriate forums to ensure that Council Meetings remain respectful and productive.” When asked if not in the public forum, where would that forum be? CAO Morisette responded that she had “no comment at this time.” The bylaw which speaks to the Public and Council Member Forum does not include any limitation on what the public may say.
The CAO’s ‘no comment’ response encompassed several other soft-ball questions like ‘Was the September, 13th meeting the first to be recorded?’ ‘Were any/all meetings video recorded?’ ‘Why did the R.M. release only audio recordings?’ and ‘Who wrote it and who approved it?’ (the disclaimer).
LMT has also reached out to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner in this matter but hasn’t heard back in time for publication.
Jennifer Argue, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Note: These reports are abridged for content
- Jenifer Argue, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
Note: These reports may be abridged for content
