New Committee Rules for Towns sprang from Paradise’s Councillor’s Idea.

By Mark Squibb

Paradise councillor Glen Carew said he’s glad that a recommendation he suggested to council back in 2022 is being mandated for all municipalities across the province,.

The Towns and Local Services District Act came into effect on January 1, replacing the Municipalities Act of 1999.

As per the new Act, committee meetings must be open to the public. As such, the Town of Paradise will hold a bi-weekly, public committee of the whole meeting. Previously, council held a number of weekly, behind-closed doors committee meetings. Now, those different meetings will be rolled into a bi-weekly committee of the whole meeting that will be open to the public.

Carew said that back in March of 2022 council adopted new terms of reference for committee meetings, with the goal of making the meetings more transparent.

“But, in my opinion, there were some limitations,” said Carew. “One limitation was that only three councillors could take part in the committee discussion and make decisions on items that came to that committee. And there was an increased timeline for response to residents on items that came to committee for discussion.”

Carew, at the time, voted against the new terms of reference, citing the limitations, and instead suggested council open the meetings to the public, which the provincial government is now mandating through the Act.

“This new Committee of the Whole format will keep residents better informed – which is paramount of course — and improve transparency and open government,” said Carew. “Committee of the whole will give residents a better perspective of the municipal process and how decisions are made.”

The first public committee of the whole meeting was held January 14.