THUNDER BAY – A meeting intended to provide public input into the City of Thunder Bay’s 2022 budget has been cancelled, after the city received no requests to participate.
The post-budget meeting, which was set for Thursday, Feb. 3, is a chance for citizens and local organizations to give feedback on the spending plan before final approval, which will come as council votes to ratify the budget on Feb. 7.
City clerk Krista Power announced at Tuesday’s final budget review session the meeting would be cancelled as the city had received no deputation requests. The deadline for those requests was at noon Tuesday, before council made budget decisions on funding for a new police headquarters, and other issues.
It’s part of a pattern of lower engagement during the pandemic.
Council heard just three deputations at its virtual pre-budget meeting in January, down from five last year and eight in 2020.
“I would suggest that much of this is COVID-related,” said Power. “The interest in participating virtually is losing its appeal and becoming more trying for many.”
On the other hand, Power said online viewership of council meetings has risen during the pandemic.
The city has extended its deadline for written deputations until 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4. All deputations will be shared with councillors that afternoon.
The city had received no written deputations as of Wednesday, Power said.
The city has so far received 66 responses to a public survey on the budget, which closes Thursday, Feb 3. Last year, the same survey was filled out by 108 people.
Survey responses are not compiled or published, but shared directly with councillors.
Residents can learn more about how to provide feedback on the budget at the city's website.
A pre-budget survey offered in June garnered 244 responses, down from 500 in 2021 (the survey was held in November in that year).
Coun. Trevor Giertuga agreed the fall-off in participation could be chalked up to the pandemic, and said councillors still receive plenty of feedback on the budget directly from the public.
While he called the survey responses and deputations “impactful,” he said councillors also realize the dozens or hundreds of responses aren’t necessarily representative of the public at large.
