Letter dated June 18, 2025 to Assistant Deputy Min. T. Faganello from Mayor Tobias, Re: Proposed Legislative Amendments to Closed Meeting Provisions

June 18, 2025

Tara Faganello, Assistant Deputy Minister Local Government Division Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs PO Box 9838 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC V8W 9T1

VIA EMAIL: LG.PRL@gov.bc.ca

Dear Assistant Deputy Minister Faganello,

Re: Proposed Legislative Amendments to Closed Meeting Provisions (Reference: 186635)

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the proposed amendments to the Community Charter that would expand the circumstances under which a municipal council must close a meeting to include matters related to First Nations relations.

At its meeting on June 17, 2025, the Council for the Town of View Royal considered this proposal and reached a unanimous decision not to support the proposed expansion of closed meeting provisions for matters relating to First Nations.

View Royal Council has two neighbouring First Nations and strongly believes that reconciliation and meaningful government-to-government relationships must be founded on principles of transparency, openness, and public participation. As such, the Town is committed to engaging with the public on matters of community significance, including those involving our relationships with neighbouring First Nations.

As stated in Section 89 of the Community Charter, “A meeting of a council must be open to the public,” and Section 90 provides limited exceptions that must be interpreted narrowly and applied with care. Council is of the view that the existing provisions in Section 90 are sufficient to protect sensitive matters, including those involving intergovernmental negotiations or matters subject to confidentiality agreements.

We respectfully caution that expanding the scope for closed meetings—particularly on topics that relate to reconciliation and Indigenous relations—risks creating a perception of secrecy and undermines public trust in both the reconciliation process and local governance. Open dialogue and transparency are essential to building mutual understanding, and we are committed to fostering those values through our own practices.

Thank you again for the opportunity to comment. Please do not hesitate to reach out if further discussion would be helpful.

Sincerely,

Sid Tobias MSM, CD, MA Mayor

cc. Town of View Royal Council