Victoria County restoring some accountability by reinstating public Q&As: councillor

The Victoria County council has made a significant decision to reinstate public question-and-answer sessions following council meetings. This move comes after the council had previously decided to do away with these sessions in January. Additionally, they had also stopped allowing comments on the county’s Facebook page and ceased the livestreaming of committee meetings. Coun. Fraser Patterson expressed concerns about these decisions, stating that they made the county less transparent and less accountable to the public.

During Monday’s council meeting in Baddeck, Coun. Patterson attempted to reverse all three decisions, but was only successful in reinstating the Q&A sessions. He emphasized the importance of allowing residents to question councillors and highlighted the value of open discussion in a democratic society. Patterson mentioned that he had received feedback from unhappy residents, with the ability to question councillors being the most important decision to reverse.

The council unanimously voted to rescind their decision on Q&A sessions, but there was a lack of consensus on the format these sessions should take. Suggestions were made to limit questions to topics discussed during the council meeting and enforce time limits. Coun. Donna Matheson-LeFort emphasized the need for a reasonable format that does not stifle free speech.

Warden Jackie Organ acknowledged the community’s desire to have Q&A sessions reinstated and stated that discussions on the format and time limits would be held in the future. Organ mentioned that the topic would be brought back to the committee for further deliberation.

Despite Patterson’s efforts to reverse the decisions on Facebook comments and livestreaming committee meetings, no other councillor seconded his motions for debate. Patterson argued that these options would allow more residents to participate in county decisions, especially considering Victoria County’s large geographic area.

Patterson stressed the importance of transparency and accessibility in engaging residents in public matters. He highlighted the need to utilize online platforms for engagement, particularly for young people and individuals with accessibility challenges. Organ defended the council’s decision to livestream council meetings, stating that committee meetings, where decisions are not finalized, do not need to be broadcast.

Regarding the Facebook page, Organ clarified that it is intended for information only and not for comments. She encouraged residents to reach out to their councillor or administrative staff for inquiries or comments.

Overall, the reinstatement of public Q&A sessions demonstrates the council’s responsiveness to public feedback and commitment to transparency. The ongoing discussions on the format of these sessions reflect a commitment to ensuring meaningful engagement with the community on important issues.