Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknife city councillors were pleased after changes were made to curtail the "cone of silence" around a policing committee last week.

"I think this benefits everyone," said councillor Paul Falvo of the changes made to the Yellowknife Area Policing Committee.

The changes involved the committee's terms of reference, or guidelines, allowing the group to work "in camera" (outside of public scrutiny) during sensitive matters, but generally be open to the public.

"I think it's going to help the committee do its job better," Falvo said. "I think it makes it hard to do their job when (the meetings are) all in camera."

Originally, all meetings were to be held in private, and committee minutes were to be delivered to council in confidence. One term insisted "that all committee discussions regarding concerns and enforcement issues are kept strictly confidential."

The Yellowknife Area Policing Committee was a topic of hot debate in May, as Coun. David Wind threatened to step down from the group unless it was made more open to public scrutiny.

Since 2005, the committee has operated as a platform to advise the city and the RCMP on policing matters. Its membership includes Wind, a downtown merchant (Jennifer Marchant), a Kam Lake Industrial Park property owner (Carey McKeil), a representative from the public at large (Nickie Gordon), and Old Airport Road merchant (Ray Decorby), a school division representative (Flo Campbell) and one representative recommended by the Community Wellness Coalition (Lea Martin).

"I'm satisfied with the way (the terms of reference) were changed," Wind said on Monday.

During last week's meeting, Coun. Shelagh Montgomery tried to take things a step further, adding "whenever possible, the committee will conduct its meetings in public," to the terms of reference. The move did not gain much traction in council.

"I would argue for being happy with what we have now," Wind said at the meeting, concerned things might "blow up."

"If the committee hasn't got the message about being in public, they're not going to get it," Coun. Kevin Kennedy added.

Kennedy could not be reached for further comment while on vacation.