During the COVID-19 pandemic, Council Meetings are taking place in a virtual environment and the guidelines and expectations surrounding public participation during this State of Emergency have had to adjust as a result. Any person wishing to be a delegation on a matter that is not on the Agenda, may be deferred to when the Emergency Declaration has been lifted. If you wish to address Council on a matter that is on the Agenda, please contact the Information and Legislative Services Department. Process for participation Council Meetings have been adjusted for the electronic environment. Procedures have been developed.
All Council Meetings are open to the public unless they are a Closed Meeting under Section 239 (2) of the Municipal Act.
The rules for being a delegation have been established by Council through the Procedural By-law. The following is a summary of highlights on delegations taken from the Procedural By-law.
- If the topic is not on the Agenda, you must register with the Clerk, in writing, no less than five business days before the Meeting. You will be allowed up to ten minutes to speak. Delegations will be asked to speak with staff first if it is about an operational matter or if the matter can be resolved by speaking with staff.
- If the topic is on the Agenda, delegations may register with the Clerk, in writing, no less than four hours before the meeting is to start. You will be allowed ten minutes to speak.
- If the topic is on the Agenda but you have not registered in advance with the Clerk, you may raise your hand and the Mayor will call on you to address Council. You will be allowed five minutes to speak.
- If the topic is not on the Agenda and you have not registered in advance, raise your hand and the Mayor will call on you. You can briefly let Council know what you wish to speak about and they can pass a Resolution allowing you to address them on the topic. You will be allowed five minutes to speak. If it is an operational matter you may be deferred to staff.
- If you have audio or visual materials, the Clerk and CAO will need to review it for to inappropriate language, graphic images or other messaging that does not reflect the decorum of Council Chambers. Audio/Visual materials must be received a minimum of one hour in advance of the first scheduled meeting on the Agenda. Providing visual materials no less than five business days in advance of the meeting will allow staff to include the materials in the Council Agenda Package.
- All delegations will be treated with respect and are expected to be respectful to Council, staff and other delegations.
Public Meetings for planning matters or municipal drains normally allow for residents to speak without registering or asking to be heard at the meeting. At the appropriate part of the meeting the Chair will ask if anyone wants to address Council on that topic.
Contacts