INNISFAIL – Following the unprecedented suspension of a raucous Innisfail town council meeting this week over a planned carbon removal project, plans are underway by both the town and Deep Sky to ensure future public engagement into the $50 million project is civil and respectful.
The Aug. 12 regular council meeting began peacefully with the gallery packed with citizens who came to either make presentations about Deep Sky’s planned carbon removal innovation and commercialization centre in Innisfail’s Southwest Industrial Park, or hear the response from either council or administration.
However, any notion of civility took an immediate ominous turn when about 12 attendees immediately stood up during the opening land acknowledgement and turned their backs against council.
When the audience was later invited to make presentations, council members and Town of Innisfail staff were soon faced with clear opposition and unrelenting hostility from anti-carbon capture protesters for its statutory role in approving Deep Sky’s application to build a $50 million, 217,000-square foot facility at Innisfail’s new Southwest Industrial Park.
With hostility and non-stop interruptions against council reaching a crescendo, mayor Jean Barclay first suggested a brief recess but within a few minutes it was decided to just adjourn the meeting altogether; possibly the first time in the town’s 121-year history the move has been made.
Since then there have been deep discussions between Deep Sky and senior town officials on the best way forward to ensure there is future public engagement but without unwanted and unnecessary hostility and interruptions.
Earlier on Wednesday, Aug. 14, Deep Sky issued a statement to the Albertan, one that is promising residents transparency and opportunities to ask questions about the project, which is hailing itself as the first of its kind anywhere, and a testing ground for new and safe technologies.
“We are pleased to see interest in our project from the community in Innisfail,” said a Deep Sky company spokesperson in a prepared statement. “It’s natural to have questions about a new project, and we’re happy to reassure the town residents that a) carbon removal and storage is safe, b) this technology has the potential to save our planet, and c) it’ll bring jobs and benefits to local taxpayers.
“Deep Sky highly values community engagement, and we invite residents to come learn about the project at open houses this September (dates will be shared soon),” added the statement.
“A FAQ (frequently asked questions) will also be posted to our website soon, which answers many thoughtful questions community members have already posed. Any additional questions in the meantime can be directed to [email protected].”
Todd Becker, the Town of Innisfail’s chief administrative officer, said since Monday’s turbulent regular council meeting he has been taking a serious look into the town’s council procedure bylaw, and helping council with the proper protocols of what they're expecting with public engagement.
“It’s more into the mayor’s space. Council was faced with a group of individuals who wanted to speak to council about the Deep Sky project. They weren't on the agenda,” said Becker. “We did not expect to have a Q and A with members of the gallery.
“We witnessed some behaviours that made it challenging to have a proper engagement at that time,” said Becker. “Right now, my role is to assist council with setting their expectations in relation to having proper interactions with those who wish to speak to council.
“The procedure bylaw is there for a purpose, and as different conversations are presented, council will likely wish to exercise some of those expectations and boundaries outlined in the procedure bylaw.”
Becker told the Albertan the bylaw deals with delegations and requests to council, as well as a section for open microphone sessions, the latter being the case for the Aug. 12 council meeting.
The bylaw also has a conduct-in-council-meetings section, with one part specifically dealing with public conduct.
This section says members of the public “will” maintain order and quiet and not interrupt a speech or action of council or another person addressing the members.
It adds the chair, which usually is the mayor, may order a member of the public who creates a disturbance or acts improperly at a meeting to be expelled for the remainder of the meeting.
“There’s going to be some public engagements, and this was always planned,” said Becker. “This is not due to what happened on Monday. This was always part of the process to engage the communities and have Deep Sky be available with the community.”
Becker added that with council having greater clarity and understanding with the council procedure bylaw, and being committed with hosting public forums in September, there is high confidence public order will be maintained throughout the rest of the public engagement process.
“I have nothing but faith and trust in council in working towards maintaining order,” said Becker. “I have confidence there will be order within the chambers, and I am ready to deploy necessary resources to ensure that conduct is maintained.”
