Mayor Simon Yu’s bid to have the city publish public notices in the local newspaper came up short.
After a two-hour heated, and at time acrimonious, debate the status quo will remain. That status quo goes back to a bylaw enacted last year which moved publishing city public notices from The Citizen to the city’s website and Facebook page.
In his report to council last week, Yu said he believes the bylaw “does not align with council’s core priorities of accountability, inclusivity, integrity, and transparency.”
The debate around the table, however, moved quickly from public notices to the state of journalism.
“Saying that we are not open or transparent because we are not buying ads to promote our public notices in the Citizen… that is not less transparent or open,” said Coun. Kyle Sampson, who brought forward the motion to stop advertising locally last year. “That information is publicly posted on our website. The Citizen and any other local media can report on it as they wish.”
“What are you guys afraid of by saying, yes?,” said Yu. “What are you afraid of by doing this?”
Councillors Brian Skakun and Trudy Klassen, however, spoke in favour of Yu’s motion to return to newspaper advertising.
When it came to vote on Yu’s motion, Yu, Klassen, and Skakun voted in favour while the remainder of council voted against, defeating the motion. That means the status quo remains and the city will only post public notices on its website and Facebook page. However, the bylaw does allow for periodic advertising in the newspaper when it wishes to.