Raise the Hammer

I had an enlightening conversation with a committee member.

In short - I believe that the committee understands the importance of balance between the public right to know and the individual's right to privacy regarding their personal lives. I also believe that the committee is capable of utilizing their own judgement (given that we are asking them to sit as a quasi-judicial body) to determine when to ask that observers, journalists and proxies discontinue recording/broadcast or even to have them exit the room for an in camera discussion.

The default stance of all city government must be Transparent and Accountable. When there is a requirement to reduce transparency, it should be undertaken as a grave matter. The current capriciousness of council declaring In Camera at the slightest chance of the potential that a resident would hold their feet to the fire is unbelievably wrong.

The city needs a policy that specifically permits residents, journalists, observers and proxies* to attend meetings of any committee unless there is a clearly articulated reason for an in camera session. In the case of this morning's meeting, the discussion of property standards as they relate to the Gore Park civic gong show is absolutely in the interests of all Hamiltonians. The subsequent discussions around the enforcement against residents in their primary domicile is reasonably acceptable to keep private and unreported. The professionalism of Matt and Joey is such that if you told them "please don't report verbatim on these issues" would be more than sufficient. In one paragraph, we've solved the situation cleanly and without the need to invoke an In Camera session.

If I can solve it in one paragraph, how come City Clerks can't seem to see past the end of their noses?

Yeah.

• in this case, proxy is the most appropriate term. I am not reading Joey's interpretation of the event, but rather relying on him to be my stand-in for the purposes of my attendance as a resident of the city. That Joey is also a journalist is secondary to the mission which he undertook for me.