City of Powell River councillors were provided an update regarding the intergovernmental relations working group involving city councillors and Tla’amin Nation representatives.
At the June 17 special council meeting, councillor Trina Isakson provided a report on the working group that was established by a previous city council motion. She said the working group membership has been defined, with councillors Earl Almeida, George Doubt and Isakson representing the city, and the Tla’amin Nation representatives being executive councillors Erik Blaney, Dillon Johnson and Losa Luaifoa.
Isakson said the first meeting had been held. She said the working group had met and enjoyed a potluck.
“We talked broadly about working group purpose, and we explored ideas for a working group mandate or terms of reference, but we’ll come back to a future working group meeting to continue the conversation,” said Isakson. “Anything that requires a city council decision will come back to council as a recommendation for council to decide, but there is nothing that has come to council to decide on at this point.”
Councillor Jim Palm said when he saw the item on the council agenda he had a couple of questions.
“I think I’m correct in saying these meetings are behind closed doors,” said Palm. “They are kind of an in camera meeting. Am I correct?”
Isakson said the working group meetings are not council meetings because there is not a quorum of council, so there is no such thing as closed or open with these meetings.
Palm said the question that came to mind is, in future reporting, could council have something written so councillors can peruse what topics were discussed in the future?
Isakson said the intention is that hopefully there will be a written account for future meetings.
During question period, city resident Ted Vizzutti asked if residents of the community could apply to be in this group.
Councillor George Doubt said the working group is one established by a motion of council with three members of Tla’amin Nation and three members of city council.
“It’s not a council meeting and it’s not a public meeting, so the six people are the ones who attend,” said Doubt.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said if the working group has items it wants council to consider, they will land on a city council agenda, and council will discuss them in a public and open meeting.
“Since it’s not a meeting of council, there is no necessary reason for it to be open,” said Elliott. “It’s a conversation between three members of council and the Tla’amin Nation doing some work. If they have something they would like council to consider, they would bring that forward through the appropriate channels, subject to the openness of the rules that apply. The public could then see the discussion around that item when it comes forward to council.”
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