Question Period Process to be Made More Accessible

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed January 5, 2018 12:00 PM

Following feedback from residents and Council, a new process for Question Period during City Council and Committee of the Whole meetings has been recommended to accommodate residents of differing abilities.

"We want to make sure all residents are able to participate in Question Period. Given recent feedback, we felt it necessary to make some changes," says Sheila Gurrie, City Clerk, "Further consultation with residents regarding the Question Period process will take place during the review of Council’s Procedure Bylaw."

At the beginning and during recesses of Council and Committee of the Whole meetings, a sign-up sheet will be available for members of the public who wish to speak during Question Period to write down their name and the agenda item to which their question relates. Staff will be on hand to assist and speakers will no longer be required to write down their question.

The sign-up sheet will then be provided to the Chair of the meeting at the beginning of Question Period where they will call members of the public to the podium to ask their question within an allocated time limit of five minutes. The Chair will ensure the legitimacy of questions being asked and the City Clerk will be in attendance to provide parliamentary advice.

For more information on Question Period and other ways to engage with Council, visit www.nanaimo.ca.

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