WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ON SEPTEMBER 21ST - SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING

September 25th, 2026

I've debated publishing this, but then someone who read it advised that I should publish it as it is an example of how I think about issues:

"There is a legal principle that many of us have heard before. It dates back to 1924, and I think it is just as relevant in 2026:

“Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.”

The Town of Wasaga Beach has an Accountability and Transparency Policy. It says municipal decision-making should be open and clear to the public, and that the municipality should encourage stakeholder participation.

On April 21, Mayor Brian Smith stated: “The Town of Wasaga Beach and this Council are committed to transparency and responsible stewardship.”

I believe residents have every right to see that commitment in practice.

AI generated graphic poster

And here's what happened with today's Special Council meeting:

• Friday, September 18

Special Council Meeting posted on the Town’s website

• Saturday

  Town Hall closed.

  
  

• Sunday

  Town Hall closed.

  
  

• Monday — 8:30 a.m.

  
  

  Town Hall opens.

  
  

• Monday — 12:30 p.m.

  Special Council meeting begins.

  
  

But according to the Town's procedural rules, a resident wishing to make a deputation on an agenda item must register with the Clerk by 4:00 p.m. the day before the meeting - Sunday/20th/September. But, I think the average resident would not have a reasonable expectation that Saturday and Sunday – which are not deemed “business days” by the Province of Ontario - would be open and have Staff working to receive notification from a member of the public that they wished to speak at the meeting.

I am not suggesting that was intentional.

I am saying that public participation requires a reasonable opportunity to participate.

So I believe Council has two choices:

One — provide an open-mic opportunity today through the appropriate legal and procedural mechanism.

Or two — adjourn this meeting and give residents sufficient notice to prepare, complete the deputation form, and be heard.

And one final point: this Council is not automatically “lame duck” simply because an election is approaching. Under the Municipal Act, the restricted-acts provisions apply only when it can be determined that the incoming Council will include less than three-quarters of the outgoing Council. The Town's certified candidate list shows all seven current members of Council are running again. Therefore, that threshold is not met.

There is no lame-duck period and decisions made today will rest on the shoulders of the Council elected on October 26^th.

Residents deserve transparency about decisions involving contracts, municipal property and public money.

Democracy can be messy. That's okay.

But residents need to be able to see the process and participate in it."

Thanks for listening!