CORRECTION: This editorial originally stated that “Lots of municipal bodies in the region and province hold these types of meetings, including Athabasca County.
CORRECTION: This editorial originally stated that “Lots of municipal bodies in the region and province hold these types of meetings, including Athabasca County. ” It should be noted that Athabasca County council's regularly scheduled “committee of the whole meetings, ” such as public works and budget and finance meetings, are open to the public.
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The Advocate regrets the error.
Town council seems to think that in order to move this town forward, council needs to take a step in the opposite direction.
At the start of this term, council decided to stop its practice of holding meetings behind closed doors: a victory for transparency. However, council has now retraced its steps and decided to resume the practice of holding committee of the whole meetings without the presence of the public and media -something that violates the letter and the spirit of the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
Some argue these meetings allow another opportunity for council and administration to meet and get to know the issues of this community. There is nothing in the MGA stating councils can't have more than two meetings a month. You need more time? Schedule more meetings, and if you really want to know the issues of this community, why not invite them to be present?
Some argue that other municipal bodies in the region and province hold these types of meetings. But that's not a valid defence; it's a cautionary tale. The effect of these closed meetings appears to be that by the time issues get to open council meetings, most of the debates have been had and concerns have been aired, leaving little but rushed motions passed with everyone in favour. The public is left with the impression that everyone gets along just fine and there are no differences of opinion or issues of real import on the table. Any insight into the true workings of council is lost, replaced by stultifying opacity.
Athabasca deserves better than such tepid pseudo-democracy.
Finally, these closed meetings ostensibly offer new councillors an opportunity to ask questions they may not feel comfortable asking in front of the public. The council members are elected officials. The privilege of talking about the issues of this community in private disappears after being chosen to represent this town. Also, it seems what makes some new members on council uncomfortable is hiding those questions and concerns behind closed doors -so much so they have written a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs explaining the situation.
Council needs to figure out in which direction it needs to be moving if it wants to benefit this town. Hopefully it's back through that closed door.
