Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Aug 01/01) - City hall needs more transparency, says a city councillor who wants to draw up a bylaw setting ground rules for releasing information.
 Kevin O'Reilly |
"I've been provided with no reasons why we can't release the correspondence," said O'Reilly.
O'Reilly said he wouldn't release his copies of the letter holding Yellowknife Mayor Gord Van Tighem responsible for their release.
Van Tighem said the city follows a general policy of not releasing letters unless the third party agrees.
"It's the polite thing to do," said Van Tighem.
"But if there is going to be a new policy then we'll have a new policy," he said.
Which is what O'Reilly wants to do. He said the unreleased letters highlight the need for the city to have an access to information bylaw, a notion supported by some councillors.
"I think it would be good to know what the ground rules are," said Coun. Blake Lyons.
"I think we do we need one," said Coun. Alan Woytuik.
"I'm OK with it," said Coun. Robert Hawkins." The more clear we are will actually help us discuss issues."
Coun. Dave McCann said he agrees with the concept in "broad brush strokes" but doesn't think it should be a stand alone issue.
"I would support the bylaw but we shouldn't go out and be world leaders on the issue," said McCann.
O'Reilly inserted the issue of the unreleased letters onto the agenda for the next council committee meeting scheduled for Aug. 20.
He's trying to garner support for a special council meeting on the issue before then.
So far, only Hawkins outrightly supports the move.
