The mayor of Kelowna is asking city council members not to communicate with the media before their gatherings.
In a letter sent to council recently, Tom Dyas indicated, "According to our code of conduct, the mayor should act as the spokesperson for the city."
The message further states, "When addressing the press, city representatives must clarify that they are expressing their individual viewpoints and should refrain from commenting to the media until the proposal has been presented to the council."
Following Coun. Ron Cannan’s issuance of a motion to establish a 'Buy Canadian' policy earlier this month, the mayor responded with his letter.
Cannan was set to participate in an interview regarding the procurement with Global News; however, he canceled at short notice after stating that the mayor instructed him to "cease interaction with the media."
Paradoxically, the mayor declined to be interviewed regarding his instruction to the councillors.
Rather than doing so, he released a statement indicating, "'Elected councillors hold their positions independently and have the liberty to express their personal views to the press.'"
Dyas commented, "All I requested was for items necessitating a council vote to be discussed at the council table initially."
Video: Kelowna City Council Code of Conduct Policy
"The moment we begin hearing about suggestions for elected officials to avoid answering journalists' questions, it sets off an alarm," stated Stewart Prest, who lectures in political science at UBC.
Prest indicated that efforts to manage the narrative tend to happen more frequently at upper echelons of governmental bodies.
As seen from the perspective of the city council, this adds another dimension," Prest commented. "Municipal councils typically represent the foundational tier of democratic engagement, allowing citizens to have more direct access to those who make decisions.
Sharon Shepherd served as the mayor of Kelowna from 2005 to 2011.
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She stated to Global News that she did not direct the councillors against talking to the press.
Shepherd noted that she wasn’t sure whether such an occurrence would have been accepted back then, but acknowledged that times and situations have changed significantly.
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Councilor Loyal Woolldridge stated that he does not believe the mayor is attempting to suppress his voice or those of his colleagues.
“I don’t feel like I’m under any sort of gag order,” Wooldridge stated.
Nevertheless, he pointed out that addressing the media prior to making decisions can be difficult since council members must maintain an open mind until they receive all necessary information and subsequently vote on it.
"When we're requested to address the media, I believe it should be handled knowledgeably. That’s typically why I refrain from speaking until after the city council has made its decision," Wooldridge stated.
Rick Webber, who previously worked as part of the media, stated that whether instructed or not, he believes he has the liberty to voice his opinions.
Weber stated, 'The mayor doesn’t oversee the city council, and he’s well aware of this,' adding, 'While he desires a cohesive message, city councilors are free to share their views should they wish to do so.'