August 11, 2026
181
To the editor:
RE: "Get Real: Feeling the pain"
As a resident of Huron-Kinloss, I read a recent editorial in the Kincardine Record where you note you've requested virtual access to view Huron-Kinloss council proceedings on-line, but do not want council to open this up to members of the public.
This would create an unnecessary divide between residents, the media and local government.
Transparency in municipal politics is not something that should be filtered through a single group, no matter how dedicated our local media is. The press plays a vital role, but direct access for citizens is essential. When council debates issues that shape our roads, policies, emergency services, development, taxation, and long-term planning, residents deserve the ability to witness those discussions first-hand. Relying solely on media summaries is not a substitute for public visibility.
Geographically speaking, Huron-Kinloss is nearly 450 square kilometres. From Point Clark to Lucknow, our township covers a wide area. Add winter weather, rural road conditions, shift work, mobility challenges, and family responsibilities, and it becomes clear that in-person attendance is not always possible.
On-line access would help bridge this divide in Huron-Kinloss. It is already a practical tool for rural communities. Many municipalities across Ontario already live-stream or record their meetings because it strengthens trust, improves civic engagement, and ensures residents feel connected to the decisions shaping their community.
All council meetings are part of public record, so your commentary regarding how "open and forthright council members and staff will be when everything they say can, and will, be used against them in the court of public opinion" is unnecessary. I expect my elected officials and municipal staff to carry themselves professionally and abide by their code of conduct, whether meetings are shown virtually or not.
If media can attend electronically, residents should have that same opportunity.
The council chamber should not be the only doorway into local democracy. In 2026, residents reasonably expect modern, accessible ways to observe their elected representatives at work.
I urge Huron-Kinloss council to carefully consider its approach here and, should it choose to proceed with on-line meetings, provide full on-line access to the public, not just to those in the media.
Sincerely,
Sarah Foster,
Huron-Kinloss resident
cc: current and prospective Huron-Kinloss councillors
The following is the response from the Huron-Kinloss manager of legislative services/clerk:
I appreciate being copied on the letter to the editor from Sarah Foster, and the opportunity to provide additional information on the township's response to the request to live-stream meetings of council. The request allowed staff to provide a fulsome review of what would be required and what should be considered in implementing a public live-stream of the meetings of council and committee-of-the-whole.
The township recognizes that providing reliable live-streaming enhances transparency, improves accessibility for residents who cannot attend meetings in person, and supports council's commitment to open government.
Report CLK-2026-23 from the July 6, 2026, meeting of committee-of-the-whole: pub-huronkinloss.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=23545, provides background on earlier reports, and the proposed direction for live-streaming township meetings. The recommendation in the report was approved, to include the required technological updates in 2027 budget considerations and directing staff to continue exploring alternate funding opportunities to expedite the project.
The report additionally refers to current procedural requirements, and the rationale behind permitting electronic public participation as "view only." The purpose of live-streaming would be to provide the public an opportunity to view meetings of council, electronically, in support of the township’s guiding principle identified in the Strategic Plan 2023-33 of being open and transparent in communications and decision making.
Delegations and public participation still would be required to attend the council chamber in person except where the meeting takes place entirely electronically. There is no intention, at this time, of recording the proceedings and making them available after the meeting. Constraints to that phase of the project are outlined in the report.
As Phase 1 proceeds, and the required updates are completed, live-streaming would be available equally to any resident or interested party, not exclusively to the media. Elected officials and municipal staff are required to carry themselves professionally and abide by the township's various codes of conduct, whether meetings are shown virtually or not.
At the same meeting of July 6, 2026, council received a communications status report, which discussed the importance of transparency and accessibility in communications, and detailed the various methods of communication and routine disclosure of information, that supported the township's communication strategy. Attendance at council, virtually or in person, should not be the exclusive method for members of the public to receive information on the projects, programs and services within the community. Township staff continues to monitor, evaluate and revise the communication strategy to improve transparency and accessibility of information.
Thank you for your feedback and your continued interest in local governance.
Jennifer White
Manager of legislative services/clerk
Township of Huron-Kinloss
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