Carbonear council livestream hit and miss for viewers

By Mark Squibb

Residents accustomed to tuning into the Town of Carbonear’s public council meetings were likely disappointed last week as the meeting did not air.

For people who follow the broadcasts, it’s become somewhat of a pattern over the last two months.

The February 13 council meeting along with a special meeting called on February 26 were also not broadcasted on the Town’s YouTube channel, meaning that three of the town’s last five most recent public meetings were not available online. Council tried to broadcast the February council meeting, but experienced technical problems.

A public Municipal Plan review held on March 21, however, was broadcast.

Town CAO Cynthia Davis explained the Town’s Economic Development and Tourism Officer operates the livestreaming equipment, and she was unavailable for last week’s meeting. If staff are not available to operate the equipment, said Davis, the meetings will not be livestreamed.

Davis added that special meetings of council that have been called on short notice may also not be livestreamed.

Provincial legislature mandates that public meetings are open to the public; livestreaming, however, is optional. Carbonear council, like many councils around the province, started broadcasting its meetings online during the Covid-19 pandemic when the public were not allowed in the chamber due to social distancing requirements.