By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
Last week, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG) directors gave first, second and third reading to a procedural bylaw amendment requiring the Regional District to record how directors vote in board meeting minutes. The board will now issue a public notification that they may change its procedural bylaw before considering officially adopting the amended bylaw at their next meeting.
The subject of whether directors’ votes should be recorded has been the topic of much controversy among the RDFFG board. While similar policies were discussed in 2019 and 2023, the topic made a re-appearance in August of this year, when directors voted 7-6 against a bylaw amendment that would require votes in opposition to be recorded in the meeting minutes, without exception.
During the August board meeting, directors expressed concern that this requirement may lead to increased harassment from constituents and journalists. In an attempt to resolve these concerns, director Kyle Sampson changed the proposed amendment to allow directors to opt out of having their “no” votes recorded.
The board discussed the new amendment during their October meeting, where they decided to postpone their decision so staff could research the potential legal consequences of not recording votes in opposition. Staff found there is likely no legal risk or liability associated with not recording opposing votes in the minutes.
Electoral Area H representative Dannielle Alan told the board she discussed the amendment with over 50 of her constituents, none of whom expressed concern over a lack of transparency.
“Quite frankly, they didn’t care. Not one of them thought that it was important,” she said. “I’m not going to waste any more time on this one. To me, it’s a non-issue.”
In a follow-up interview with The Goat, Alan said she had discussions on government transparency with constituents of all ages over the course of several days.
“A huge part of it was asking, ‘What would it take to have somebody trust the government?’” Alan said. “Some of them who are more politically active said things like, they watch parliamentary procedure and find it disgusting because it’s like a performance piece. Nothing of substance gets discussed or debated.”
If votes are recorded in the minutes without any additional context, it may create confusion for constituents or division among the board, Alan added. She recalled one instance where she voted against a motion on maternity leave for elected officials because she felt it was a performative gesture that provided insufficient support – Alan worries that had her vote been recorded in meeting minutes, it would have appeared that she is opposed to maternity leave.
A better practice is for elected officials to foster ongoing relationships with their constituents, Alan says.
“If I’m going to make a decision that’s going to affect you, I’m going to come and talk to you about it. I want to hear your perspective on it,” she said. “I believe we will increase transparency and trust in government by being honourable, by being communicative, by doing what we say and telling the truth.”
During the meeting, Chair Lara Beckett also said the amendment may not make a difference.
“It is different from what we do now, but I am not sure that it necessarily improves transparency,” she said.
Alan, Beckett and Director Brian Skakun all voted against the amended bylaw, and requested that their votes be recorded in the minutes. However, the board moved to give the amendment first, second and third reading.
If the amended bylaw is adopted, the RDFFG will join the Regional Districts of East Kootenay, North Okanagan and Okanagan-Similkameen as the districts which record votes in the minutes. Additionally, 14 regional districts record votes and make audio or video recordings of their board meetings available online. Currently, only three regional districts – the RDFFG, the Cariboo Regional District and the North Coast Regional District – do not offer any recordings of their meetings or of how directors voted.
