Editor:
How sad that after one year in office, Coun. Scott Elliott does not appear to have learned very much.
In his year end address, he proudly states that he has no reason to make Freedom of Information (FOI) requests because he attends every “in camera” meeting. I feel this remarks is directed towards Coun. Sushil Thapar.
This council stated an intent to be open and transparent to the taxpayers.
I feel it has had probably a record number of in camera meetings during 2012 in order to avoid being so.
What Elliot has failed to learn (or mention) is that by attending every meeting he is not permitted to share any information from that meeting.
By Thapar not attending, but instead making an FOI request, he is able to inform the public about matters which he believes they have a right to know (and clearly do if the information is able to be released through Freedom of Information.)
I feel it is a great shame that more councillors are not as open and transparent as Thapar is trying to be.
It is even more of a shame that Elliot feels he has something to be proud of by his statement.
Meriel Wild
Quesnel