The mayors have now met three times publicly since the new MRC meeting rules came into effect in April, and I have some thoughts on how it’s going so far.
Some of the rules are spot on. Some are hilarious—like article 25, which prohibits members of the public from singing during council meetings (oh please, someone protest via a showtune!). And some just miss the mark entirely.
One of the best changes is the acceptance of statements during public question period. Citizens should be able to stand up and express their concerns directly without being forced to phrase everything as a question. This is a meaningful step in supporting free speech and promoting real participation in liberal democracy.
The addition of a second question period at the end of meetings also makes good sense.
It allows residents to clarify what they’ve just heard and ask follow-up questions. That’s a real improvement.
But one change has clearly made the meetings worse: the decision to have mayors read the resolutions instead of having department heads present them.
Previously, department directors would present and explain the resolutions for their own portfolios—offering context and rationale in plain language. Mayors could then ask questions before voting. It was clear, informative, and efficient.
Now, department heads don’t attend. The mayors take turns reading the resolutions aloud, usually the ones related to their own municipalities. The helpful context is gone. Instead, we get a droning chorus of “Whereas… whereas… whereas…”. Meetings are longer—by at least 30 minutes—but less informative.
This change seems to come from a misunderstanding. What the public requested was access to the resolutions ahead of time—not to hear them read aloud word for word. People want to come prepared, ask good questions, and understand what’s being decided.
Warden Toller has said resolutions can’t be shared early because they might change before the vote and that this could spread misinformation.
The concern is understandable, but not justified. Without access to the documents, the public is left guessing, which is far more likely to fuel misinformation. As for the local media, we aren’t going to misreport something that hasn’t passed. One of the papers is weekly, another is biweekly—we’re usually not going to press until after the votes are cast.
So please: bring back the department heads. I want to hear from Jason Durand, Julien Gagnon, Kari Richardson and Terry Lafleur. They know their files and are the most qualified to explain them.
Council, your intentions were good,and I commend you for trying to respond to the public’s requests and improve transparency. But this one missed the mark. Let’s fix it.
Published in the Pontiac Journal on July 17, 2025.
