Your city hall just approved a closed-door meeting you can't see
It appears your Edmonton City Council has been busy, or at least, the Agenda Review Committee has. On June 2nd, the committee voted unanimously, 3-0, to approve meeting in public. This was moved by Councillor J. Wright, and Councillors A. Knack and A. Stevenson also voted yes. Sounds good, right? Transparent government.
Except immediately afterwards, the same three councillors – Knack, Stevenson, and Wright – voted 3-0 to meet *in private* for discussion of item 2.1, citing "advice from officials" under Section 29 of the *Access to Information Act*. So, a public meeting, but then a private one, for something specific. It's a bit of a classic Edmonton two-step, honestly. Like deciding to go for a walk in the River Valley and then remembering it's -30°C and settling for coffee indoors. Same energy.
Also, it seems Councillors Andrew Knack and Anne Stevenson both received gifts from BILD Edmonton Metro earlier this year—$390 and $397 respectively, according to the lobbyist registry. It's not a huge sum, but it's worth noting who's doing the giving. These private meetings and industry gifts are the kinds of things that make you wonder what’s on the draft agenda that needs such… particular attention. Edmonton doesn't need your approval. Never did.
Darren Fedoruk (@deepnorth_yeg)
The morning crew digs into these little details every day — catch it live at mornings.live.