In a previous Letter to the Editor I closed by stating I was guardedly optimistic that this new St. Albert city council appeared to be more open-minded and exercised a higher degree of due diligence in their deliberations compared to their predecessors. Unfortunately, my hopeful feelings have been dashed by recent developments such as the proposed Procedure Bylaw amendments under consideration that serve to apply tightened controls on public presentations to council which in my mind are onerous and unnecessary.
One of the few saving graces of the previous council was that it maintained relatively unfettered access to the public in directly expressing their concerns before city council. This hallmark of liberty is now under siege by virtue of a slippery slope initiative apparently originating not from our elected representatives but rather the administration causing me to conclude that once again the tail is wagging the dog!
My view is supported by the editorial (Gazette, Jan. 27) entitled “Access Issues” that expressed palpable dismay and consternation with restrictions imposed on what had effectively been direct access to information and members of council. A noteworthy example of this entrenchment is the discontinuation of providing email addresses for individual members of council that now requires contacting an intermediary. Under invasive new rules press inquiries would first be vetted by staff contingent upon declaring what is being sought and how it would be used. To say that such actions are alarming is an understatement beyond proportion. Further, I do not hesitate to suggest that the establishment of such a glaringly obvious firewall is an infringement upon the Charter Rights of both the media and citizens in general. Whoever is responsible for this atrocity must immediately be stopped in their tracks and their intentions curtailed.
