Thoughts on transparency

I read in Saturday’s paper that there was a committee of the whole meeting of city council this Monday. I tried to attend that meeting.

I could write about how when I showed up at city hall 10 minutes before the meeting that the doors were locked.

I could write on how no reason for entering into closed session was provided (as required by section 170 of council’s Procedure By-law).

Or I could go into how after the regular meeting, I was told by the city clerk that they no longer post notice of the committee meetings within city hall.

Or I could point out that during the 2022 mayoral debate, (then councillor) Jeff Fawcett answered in the affirmative whether he would make exactly these kinds of meetings and their reports open to the public (where possible).

It wouldn’t matter. Beyond a handful of reporters and a pip-squeak like me, who is willing to take the issue of transparency to the ballot box?

As I write this, there are five uncontested wards and five weeks to go until nominations close. If we can’t summon the civic engagement to have an election in every ward, what chance is there of transparency being an issue for voters? Slim to none.

Transparency was an issue in the 2022 election. Seven incumbents won re-election (or won by acclamation). The incumbents are very comfortable at this point combating all the attacks on transparency. They’ve had years and years of practice at it. Their defences are insufferable.

There is nothing more the incumbents would like to do than talk about transparency. It’s the perfect smokescreen for poor fiscal management, which they’re far less comfortable talking about.

If an incumbent (or a challenger) comes knocking on your door, ask them if we’re taxed appropriately. Ask them if developers are paying their fair share. Ask them if the province and the feds are returning our tax monies to us. Ask them how many more tax and rate hikes we must swallow. Ask them if the city is in too much debt. Ask them if our reserves are healthy. Ask them where money is being spent without care. Ask them where and when the city needs to grow, and if that will hurt or harm the purse.

While I’m doling out questions, ask yourself this: is Brandon a better city now than it was in 2022, and are you getting more bang for your buck from the city’s services today than you were then?

Transparency is a real issue. It helps explain voter apathy and why turnout hovers around 18 per cent.

However, no candidate for office is going to campaign on less transparency.

There is no distinction to be found among candidates and there’s no penalty for promise-breaking.

Let’s instead get candidates talking about pressing kitchen-table issues and give voters reason to hit the polls.

JAMES EPP

Brandon