The Our View (Gazette, April 15) commented on the “Need For Transparency.” This specifically addressed the St. Albert City Council going in camera to work on the new Council Code of Conduct Bylaw. The Municipal Government Act states that councils should avoid discussing bylaws in camera.
If St. Albert mayor and council, with all their collective knowledge, do not know this, it would then be an organizational learning disability. However, I am convinced that it is not ignorance but arrogance that prompts them to go in camera to work on amending or creating a bylaw.
Councillor Bob Russell was the only one with the common sense to oppose this going in camera. It is a sad day when a city council feels that it can ride roughshod over the legislation that governs its actions.
Council should be aware that any minutes taken during the in camera discussion of a bylaw can be requested under FOIP.
Michael Balaski, St. Albert
