By Erika Sherk
Ottawa city councillors are opposing a proposal that any topic could be discussed in secret at city council.
Twelve of the city’s 21 councillors responded to an informal poll and not one said that the City of Ottawa needed more secrecy.
“I am absolutely and totally opposed to the idea of giving city council an open right to go in camera on any item,” says Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Gord Hunter. “I think one of the strengths of local government is its openness.”
The recommendation from city staff came to light last week, suggesting that Ottawa councilors ask the provincial government to give them the power to decide what should be discussed in camera (behind closed doors without public access).
Currently, the province sets the guidelines for what the city may discuss out of the public eye.
Council can only go in camera when discussing specific topics including personnel matters, acquisition of property, labour negotiations, solicitor-client concerns and some access to information issues.
Many councillors feel those regulations are fine.
“I’m quite happy with the provincial legislation that we have now, which stipulates that you can only go in camera under certain circumstances,” says Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes.
“I don’t want to see any increase in the number of times we go in camera.”
“We have very specific criteria and even then I think we go into camera more than we need to and discuss items that should be discussed in the open,” says Innes Coun. Rainer Bloess.
“So for someone to suggest that we should have even more ability to do things in the back rooms isn’t the way government should be done.”
Bay Ward Coun. Alex Cullen, has spoken out on the issue before and calls the idea “anti-democratic.”
“Politicians are elected representatives, so the process of government has to be transparent,” he says, vowing to fight the proposal if it was supported by the council.
The recommendation would require an amendment to the Municipal Act, which details which powers are given to municipalities and which rest with the province.
Maria McRae is the vice-chair of the Corporate Services Board who will be examining the proposal and says she is interested to see how the discussion will unfold.
“There’s going to be a vigorous debate so I’m looking forward to hearing the facts. I’d like to know why it’s been proposed and why we should do less things in an open environment.”
Amidst backlash against increased secrecy, some councillors want to make it clear that the point is not that they want to discuss things privately; city council is looking for more freedom from provincial regulations.
“Rather than have the province tell the municipality, you’ve got to follow these rules, we’re going to be free to determine what those rules are,” said Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume.
The proposal was to be discussed by the Corporate Services Board Sept. 19 but the report was late and councillors did not have enough time to look it over, according to committee coordinator Dawn Whelan.
It is now set to be discussed Nov. 2.