ST. PAUL – County of St. Paul council has decided it will continue livestreaming its regular council meetings and public works meetings in 2023.
While it was previously indicated on the County’s strategic plan for 2023 to stop livestreaming meetings, a different direction is now being taken. According to County of St. Paul CAO Sheila Kitz, after discussions during a regional elected officials meeting suggested that “livestreaming was an important tool to show transparency to the public.”
During the December County of St. Paul council meeting, Coun. Ross Krekoski agreed, noting the importance of being transparent as a locally elected government.
“I think we’ve all seen how attitudes towards governments of all levels have changed in the last 10 years,” said the Division 3 councillor. “People are less trustful of public institutions in general.”
According to Krekoski, even if there are only a few people who tune in to the livestream, the important thing is to show transparency to the public and that “we’re conducting our operations in a manner that’s accessible to people.”
He added, “If we take away the ability to livestream, in my mind, all it’s doing is allowing people to say, ‘Well, why are you making your meetings less accessible to the public’?”
Krekoski explained that removing livestreaming will create “a narrative where there doesn’t need to be narrative.” He reiterated that demonstrating to the public that “we’re open and accountable” is essential.
“I don’t see what removing it accomplishes at all,” he concluded.
Phyllis Corbiere, Director of Corporate Services, also noted that removing livestreaming requires amending Meeting Procedure Bylaw No. 2021-15, wherein it states that regular council and public works meetings, whether held in-person or virtually, “will be livestreamed.”
After further discussion, Krekoski made a motion to amend the strategic plan to include livestreaming in “the same manner that it was last year.”
The motion was carried.
