LET CITY COUNCIL KNOW YOU CARE

LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE LISTENING

To the Mayor and Council,

The newly passed bylaw that bans public recording of city council meetings—and even on city-owned properties—is an alarming attack on democratic transparency.

Recording public meetings is a basic right in a free society. It allows citizens to document, discuss, and hold elected officials accountable. This bylaw risks violating Charter-protected freedoms and sends the wrong message: that the council fears scrutiny more than it values openness.

Claiming this is about staff safety is a red herring. True threats should be dealt with directly, not by silencing the public. A recording ban won’t prevent harm. But it will erode trust, suppress transparency, and make citizens feel excluded from their own government.

This whole little charade has clearly been put forward by staff, who seem to think it will keep them safe, giving a false sense of security. Those who do pay attention, really are questioning whose interest the council is concerned with?

Spending nearly $2 million for plans you don't have permission to finance, deciding you weren't giving away enough tax dollars for the rowing club elite on Long Lake, and just recently 'holding your nose' and keeping $30 million + in the plan for something taxpayers rejected. Oh, then there is the end run attempt around the AAP?

It really is little wonder this council, led by staff, will do as much as they can to keep taxpayers out of the decision-making process. What's next, a moat around City Hall?

Reverse this bylaw. Recommit to open governance. The public is watching—and we have every right to.

Sincerely Yours

[ your name ]

YOUR VOICE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE
BUT YOU HAVE TO USE IT!

Copy and paste the above letter, or alter it as you like, or compose one from scratch of your own and email it to Mayor.Council@nanaimo.ca.

Let this council know you are listening and that your silence is not consent! There are a lot of special interests that have the ear of the City Council, not the least of which is CUPE and the IAFF. Then there are the developers and business folk, etc. All of which want Council to keep putting their hand into YOUR pocket to fund their latest special interest.

It's time City Council started to listen to a new special interest group .... THE AVERAGE NANAIMO TAXPAYER!