Question period could be costly

Amendments to a bylaw governing peace during council meetings that give drastic powers to town hall were passed unanimously last night by Pointe Claire, but Mayor Bill McMurchie was adamant they would hardly ever be put to use.

"Don't be concerned by the law saying we are curtailing question period," McMurchie told the well-attended meeting during question period.

In force since early 2006, after McMurchie was re-elected, the bylaw includes provisions that do not allow audience members to record council meetings in any way, as well as forbid them from displaying a sign "which carries a message concerning a question submitted or not to council for decision."

The bylaw also disallows people from using "disrespectful, offending or violent language against Council or against anyone," "referring to the mayor or the chairman otherwise than by his title," or "interrupting or hindering the meeting with applause, noise, uproar, disturbance or otherwise."

Newly passed last night was an amendment that, among other things, allows council the right to fine anyone who breaks the above-mentioned sections of the existing bylaw from $300 to $1,000 for a first offence, and $500 to $2,000 for any subsequent one.

McMurchie explained the words in the bylaw and its amendment as typical of what is used in such situations. "I guess those people who drafted the bylaw thought it was necessary," he said, laughing off suggestions that fines could actually be levied against anyone who would not call him by his title.

As for provisions against cameras, recording devices or signs, McMurchie said council would never have to turn to fines, as anyone seen with those devices would be barred entry. "They would be stopped at the door," he said.

Pointe Claire council meetings are usually calm affairs, hardly ever descending into shouting matches between council and citizens. The mayor defended the existence of the bylaw nevertheless.

Another provision of the bylaw amendment allows council to stop more than three people from asking a question on the same subject. McMurchie said that provision is only in place to stop people from systematically derailing question period in an organized fashion.

Surrounding municipal authorities do not have bylaws as strict as the one amended in Pointe Claire yesterday. "I have the right to maintain decorum," said Beaconsfield Mayor Bob Benedetti, whose council meetings frequently become loud and passionate.

However, he said, his powers are limited to asking people who disturb the peace to leave, something which he has only done twice in his three and a half years as mayor.

As for Pierrefonds/Roxboro, where council meetings are frequently animated as well, spokesperson Joanne Palladini said council is limited to the right not to answer a question if they deem it was asked in a disrespectful fashion. "We follow the Quebec Law on Access to Information," she said.

Concordia University political science professor Harold Chorney, who once ran against Dollard des Ormeaux mayor Ed Janiszewski, estimated the bylaw amendments are a little too drastic. "This is pretty silly stuff," he said, though agreeing some way to maintain decorum is necessary during council meetings. "They're going overboard," he added.

Monday night, question period lasted about an hour. Several senior citizens asked questions around the same subject,360-litre recycling bins,but were not stopped by council. Some applause and laughter was involved, which council did not oppose either.