Calgary city council narrowly supported a notice of motion Tuesday to receive an annual summary of their confidential discussions, starting next year. The motion passed in an 8-6 vote, with some councillors questioning the report's benefits and others expressing worry it will lead to rushed decision-making.
Details of the in-camera summary
The in-camera summary will be included in the chief administrative officer's first quarterly report to council each year. It will cover all closed sessions from the previous calendar year, listing the date, the meeting body and the legal reason for going into closed session.
Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who brought forward the notice of motion co-sponsored by Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston, said the summary is about helping to compare and tally items discussed in closed sessions. Farkas campaigned on reducing the amount of time council discusses information privately.
“I think a big part of this is also about public education, to lay out that there are always certain matters that make sense to be discussed in closed session, (such as) if it's personally identifiable information, land transactions or labour negotiations,” Farkas said.
Concerns about rushed decisions
Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness argued the information in the summary is already publicly available, as motions to move in-camera are included in the minutes for every council and committee meeting. Those minutes are part of the corporate record and easily searchable on the city's website, she said.
Wyness, one of four members who served on council last term, said if elected officials are encouraged to spend as little time in closed session as possible, it could lead to rushing important decisions and leaving work undone. “I am already seeing this council doing that,” she said. “I'm seeing speed wobbles of, 'Get in-camera, shut up and get back out here.' That's not good governance.”
Support and opposition
Those who voted against the proposal included Ward 11 Coun. Rob Ward, Ward 4 Coun. DJ Kelly, Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, Ward 7 Coun. Myke Atkinson, Ward 9 Coun. Harrison Clark and Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness. Ward 1 Coun. Kim Tyers supported the motion, stating, “In the name of transparency I think this is something we should do.” Co-sponsor Johnston was absent for the vote.
Under provincial legislation, municipal councils go in-camera when the topic is legally sensitive or falls within one of the exceptions to disclosure outlined in the Access to Information Act. Rationale could include exposing someone's personal privacy, disrupting law enforcement or potentially harming the business interests of a third party. The Municipal Government Act, as well as council's procedure bylaw, require council to formally state which legal exemption justifies moving in-camera.
