In-person council meetings good for local democracy

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/03/2022 (1505 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Effective April 4, Brandon City Council meetings will once again be open for members of the public to attend in person.

That gives the Sun and its staff an opportunity to more closely report on the workings of the city after two years of watching meetings virtually over YouTube, but it also presents an opportunity to city residents.

Though there have been very occasional chances for locals to have direct, face-to-face interactions with local leadership, there has been a barrier between our local government and its constituents.

This isn’t the fault of the city or council — like all of us, they had to adapt to an ever-evolving set of difficult circumstances and follow health orders dictated to them by higher levels of government.

Whether or not things are really going back to normal as we remove restrictions while people are still dying and being hospitalized because of COVID-19, the city is making an attempt to return to pre-pandemic dealings and this isn’t something that should be ignored.

When Parliament went virtual, Westman’s Members of Parliament complained that things like question periods and committee meetings were hampered by the awkwardness of digital meetings.

It was an important thing to do in the effort of keeping people safe from the virus, but people who have watched our local council meeting livestreams over the last two years have likely seen that there is some truth to that.

People forgetting they’re on mute, video feeds not appearing and attempts to solve connection issues disrupts the flow of meetings and sometimes makes them a pain to watch.

Due to limitations on how many people could be in council chambers at any given time, there were some proceedings like this year’s budget deliberations where no live feedback could be presented, only written and electronic correspondence.

That was better than not allowing any feedback at all, but a recent public hearing at the Keystone Centre where people were allowed to directly interact with council in person showed the power of in-person interactions.

In the ongoing saga of traffic problems along Durum Drive in the Linden Lanes ward, a hearing on the question of whether to make Aberdeen Avenue a one-way street drew a lively crowd with speakers talking passionately on both sides of the issue.

When councillors voted on the matter at the next council meeting, it seemed clear that what they had seen at that meeting directly influenced their final decisions.

At that April 4 council meeting, there will also be public hearings on this year’s financial plan as well as plans to borrow money for upgrades to the water treatment plant and drainage improvements in the city’s southeast.

Since budget deliberations held earlier this year were not open to public speakers, this is a chance to provide direct feedback on the city’s financial decisions.

If you have something to say, please consider registering to speak at this meeting.

Not only will it signal that the residents of Brandon are willing to reenter their role in our local democracy, it shows our local representatives that we are keeping an eye on their decisions as we head towards a municipal election this fall.

For people who are still at-risk because of COVID and for those who cannot attend these meetings in-person, the alternative means of participating in our local democracy should stay in place for their benefit.

But for those who feel safe and comfortable enough to attend council meetings in-person and have something to say, consider flexing this long-dormant democratic muscle for your benefit, your neighbours’ benefit and your city’s benefit.

Our reporters will see you there.