Politicians don't always have the most stellar reputation when it comes to making themselves available to the public they were elected to serve.
Especially on a federal level, where being granted an audience to ask questions or to express concerns with a member of Parliament would no doubt be considered by many to be nothing short of a small miracle.
At the provincial level, obtaining any kind of opportunity to engage with the governing party's ministers is also no easy feat. Even municipalities often find themselves told by provincial officials ó politely of course ó to basically get a number and hop in line to wait their turn, never mind the average Albertan.
But at the local municipal level of politics, elected officials tend to be more accessible, which of course makes sense considering they're often our neighbours, friends and even sometimes family. We cross paths during visits to the grocery store, the post office or walks around the community.
Yet even so, not all municipal councils are always as receptive to their public as they perhaps could be. Some abide strictly by rules of order during a meeting, and only allow residents to address the chamber during a specific part of the agenda, generally at the beginning of the meeting.
Even when people are allowed to speak, they are often fairly strictly constrained to making their point within a few minutes.
But that's not the case with Sundre's council.
Although meetings are infrequently heavily attended by the public ó or even lightly attended for that matter ó Mayor Terry Leslie never misses the opportunity to offer anyone who comes the chance to speak in response to any issue council has discussed.
And not just during the time set aside on an agenda for public addresses.
To be clear, as per rules of order, elected officials have no obligation to allow members of the public to speak after the allotted window at the beginning of the meeting. This generally ensures a more smoothly flowing meeting that does not get dragged out by unplanned questions or conversations.
That Sundre's council is willing to take that additional time to allow the public to speak mid-meeting is indicative of its intent to ensure residents have a chance to be heard.
ó Simon Ducatel, editor
