Saanich is attempting to eliminate Open Forum, using the justification of potential semi-annual town hall meetings. This item is on the agenda on Monday September 9, 2024.

Saanich already broke its own Bylaw regarding Open Forum by not holding Open Forum in March of this year.

https://saanich.ca.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=1&event_id=1086&meta_id=71260

"That Council direct staff to remove “Open Forum” from its Council Procedure Bylaw.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to present Council with additional opportunities for meaningful public engagement in the form of town hall meetings which in turn will eliminate open forum as a business item from Committee of the Whole meeting agendas. "

The District of Saanich like the City of Victoria appears to be afraid of regular public input on a broad range of topics.

The District of Saanich appears to be afraid of Democracy.

It may be no coincidence that the attempt to eliminate Open Forum at Saanich follows last month's Open Forum, in which the Chair and a Councillor repeatedly interrupted me over almost 9 minutes.  The Chair prevented me from fully exposing the UVIC Real Estate's Club's relation to the Urban Development Institute on camera to Council: CRD (Capital Regional District) Watch | Video footage of my presentation at the so-called "Open Forum" at last night's Saanich Council Committee of the Whole, whereby I exposed that 6 out of... | Facebook

This didn't stop me from exposing it in the newspaper this week however: LETTER: UVic club has close ties to Urban Development Institute - Saanich News

Also this Monday September 9, 2024; a motion put forward by Councillor Chambers, after my suggestion at a previous Open Forum is going to be presented to Council for consideration.

The motion is: "That committee and other meetings that could include staff and/or members of Council with the Urban Development Institute are minuted, recorded and open to the public."

Yet another reason no doubt, why those in Saanich and the UDI that it meets with behind closed doors; would be happy for Open Forum to be disappeared, so that suggestions like this cannot be publicly put forward by members of the public in the future.

It is crucial that members of the public speak up on Monday, in order to save Open Forum and also to end the practice of unrecorded backroom meetings with the development/real estate lobby. 

If we lose Open Forum, we lose what is left of democracy in Saanich.  When we lose democracy and the ability to provide open public input on a broad range of subjects, we are unlikely to get it back.

Thank you again for all
of your exceptional support.

Democracy requires active engagement,
if we intend to keep it. 

It cannot be taken for granted.

- Sasha