2021-08-25

Where’s the democracy here?



Democracy‎ is a fragile thing. It needs to be continuously monitored and reinforced, especially in these "trumpian times." At its core is the rule of law, and the principles of accountability, transparency, consistency and fairness.

‎Case in point: 2020 - 2021 marks the 15th anniversary of the NSCAD University and Town of Lunenburg Residency / Studios Community Program. As the initiator of that program, I have been a volunteer in support of it over these years. It's been a successful venture and has served as a model for the establishment of similar programs in other centres‎ of Nova Scotia.

An unforeseen benefit has seen some of these young residents make their home in Lunenburg and its surrounding community, and some have been hired as instructors at the Lunenburg School of the Arts. Others, on the strength of their Lunenburg residency, have gone on to other residencies and to notable academic, such as Yale University, or professional accomplishments.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented the current three Residents from completing their planned projects, including community involvement and outreach to local schools.

In consideration of all of the above, by letter dated July 13, 2021, to Mayor Matt Risser and councillors, Dr. Sarah McKinnon, President of NSCAD, M Linda Hutchison, Assistant Vice-President (Univers‎ity Relations), requested that the existing agreements between NSCAD and the Town be extended for six months from September 1, 2021. Such an extension would enable the residents to complete their plans which were disrupted through no fault of their own.

The matter of this extension request was on the agenda of the council meeting set for July 27, 2021. The current three residents offered to appear before Council to speak in support of this important request, and I twice offered to appear in support thereof. The residents and I were not invited.

Rather than a public forum to hear and debate this request, the council decided to meet in private. Under Section 22(2) of the Municipal Government Act, Council "...MAY meet in closed session‎ to discuss matters relating to...(e) contract negotiations." Further, under subsection (3) "No decision shall be made at a private council meeting except a decision concerning procedural matters or to give instruction to staff...;" and under subsection (4) "A record which is open to the public shall be made, noting the fact that the council met in private, the type of matter that was discussed, as set out in subsection (2) and the date, but no other information."

Thus, despite this relationship of 15 years with a post-secondary institution (which most towns would love to have) and the reasonable request of its president, ‎and the offers of supporters to appear, Council decided to hide behind the veil of Section 22(2) of the Municipal Government Act. As a result, the matter under consideration is known, but main parties to this matter (NSCAD and the residents) have no knowledge of the debate that took place, including the respective positions taken by the mayor and councillors. One is moved to ask why the secrecy? And, why this affront to democracy by the persons elected to represent the people and their interests.

On July 30th the president and Ms Hutchison received a letter dated July 29, 2021, from Beatrice Renton, Chief Administrator of the Town, advising them that "...because of future building redevelopment plans it will not enter into extension agreements. The current agreements will all wind-up on August 31, 2021 as previously advised."‎ (It may be that Ms Renton's letter is contrary to subsection (4) of the Act.)

No democratic accountability here.‎ No democratic transparency here.

Those hard-earned democratic rights were trampled upon. Are we to forget the sacrifices and contributions of our forefathers and foremothers who laid‎ the base of our precious democracy and who did not shy away from it?

Such a culture of secrecy is unwarranted‎ and a sorry embarrassment. It's a huge problem for any fan of democracy. It must end.

Since Ms Renton's letter we have learned that the Council‎ did grant the same six months extension to the other tenant in the Old Fire Hall on Duke Street. Where's the consistency of treatment of all parties under consideration? Where's the fairness in dealing with all parties to a matter? Now we know why Council decided to meet in private.

We must all keep an eye on our democracy and its institutions. We must be vigilant. We must not be complacent. ‎We owe that to those on whose shoulders we stand. We owe that to those to whom we pass the torch.

Honourable Wilfred P. Moore, Q.C., LL.D.

Lunenburg

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