Accountability &Transparency

From my experiences and others I have talked with, City Hall has become a black-box. It is difficult to get information into and to get information out of City Hall. If you ask them for basic information they cooperate but if you scratch below the surface you will often hit a wall or feel like you do not have the right to ask or know. Citizens do not have access to information or the information can be outdated. For example, the city debt figure they currently cite is how old? One day, one month, 3 months or half a year old. Most people don't know.

Furthermore, it is often difficult to get council & the clerks office to allow individuals to make deputations to council. We need to revisit the deputation process.

I am the idea - catcher

I will try to get a great big box in the front lobby where your suggestions go in & once a week I will look at 7 and give you a call.

I will put a table in the font lobby of city hall right near the door and met with you once a week to listen to your ideas and record them. They could be placed on a board in a room we could refer to as "the living room" where we could gather a synthesis of ideas from the community.

Information needs to be readily available by creating a genuine culture of freedom of information and listening to our neighborhoods & community.

We can also increase access to city information & services on-line.