Mayor Bowman at first defends, then vows to amend plan to allow council to meet in secret

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, who campaigned on a promise of making city hall more open and transparent, has pledged to amend a planallowing council to meet behind closed doors, away from media and public scrutiny.

Council's executive policy committee voted unanimously Wednesday in favour of a bylaw that would allow council to hold what are known as in camera meetings, where nobody other than elected officials and senior public servants are allowed to attend.

Mayor Bowman at first defends, then vows to amend plan to allow council to meet in secret

8 years ago

Duration 1:16

EPC approves plan allow council to hold closed-door meetings for unspecified reasons

Council is not permitted to vote in secret right now and this was not a power considered by Sam Katz, Glen Murray, Susan Thompson or any other recent Winnipeg mayor.

Bowman voted in favour of the idea, which he introduced as a means of improving openness and transparency at city hall.

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"The ability forin camerameetings for a city council would not be unique for the City of Winnipeg," the mayor said following the EPC meeting. "All members of council have participated inin camerameetings at committee. This is an extension for council as a whole."

The change to allow closed-door meetings was embedded in areport recommending performance evaluations for four senior city officials,the chief administrative officer, chief financial officer, city clerk and city auditor.

The reportcalled for a bylaw change that would allow council to meet in secret to discuss an evaluation, as well asfor unspecified "other purposes."

A bylaw attached to the report does not specify when council can meet in secret.Chief administrative officer DougMcNeilsaid that could be at the discretion of council, surmising the change was made because some corporations don't like seeing their names in city reports.

"Usually land transactions are confidential, between the two parties," he said. "There might be other agreements that should remain with the parties involved."

Executive policy committee approved the move on Wednesday with no debate. After initially defending the plan, Bowman said upon further review it is far too broad.

"After discussion with my executive policy committee colleagues, an amendment will be proposed to the bylaw recommended by the public service to require that council's authority to go in camera be restricted to matters relating to the performance review of the city auditor."

The plan comes before council on Dec. 14.