THUNDER BAY – New, stricter provincial limits on gathering sizes have scuttled the planned resumption of in-person ward meetings.
The meetings, which allow constituents to question their municipal representatives, will now be held virtually, airing on television and streaming online.
City clerk Krista Power announced Tuesday that the meetings do not qualify for exemptions available to staffed venues such as movie theatres and bars under provincial rules. That means a maximum of 10 people would be allowed to attend.
Two planned in-person ward meetings have been rescheduled: a Northwood ward meeting featuring Coun. Shelby Ch’ng will now take place Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., while a McKellar ward meeting with Counc. Brian Hamilton has been moved to Wednesday, Oct. 7 during the same time slot.
Meetings will be aired on Shaw TV Cable 10 and Tbaytel TV Channel 110, while residents can also watch live on the city’s website.
Hamilton will miss the face-to-face interaction, which he said can bring even the most controversial discussions back down to earth.
“One thing that’s sorely lacking in politics is trust,” he said. “The ward meetings really bring out the humanity and the community aspect.”
However, he was hopeful the new format could bring a silver lining in increased accessibility, driving higher participation.
Ch'ng's experience indicated that could be the case. The Northwood councillor saw several dozen people join in online after she began streaming the meetings herself over Facebook Live.
Questions for city councillors can be submitted by email to officeofthecityclerk@thunderbay.ca or by calling (807) 625-2230 during normal business hours. They must be received by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting to be included.
All questions, including those unanswered during the meeting, will be included in the ward meeting minutes. More information regarding public participation will be available in the coming days, the city said.
