HALDIMAND — Council has unanimously agreed to withdraw the recording ban less than a week after voting in favour of the ban.
Council first voted for the ban against any “device to record or broadcast audio or video of any meeting” in a decorum amendment on October 10, 2023, but after complaints the County withdrew it days later for solicitor review. On November 21, the amendment said “recording devices may be used at the discretion of the Clerk or designate.”
Speaking in a delegation against any recording ban on behalf of The Haldimand Press, Interim Executive Director for the Ontario Community Newspapers Association Gordon Cameron said, “Journalists should not need to seek permission from those we cover to be allowed to do our job.”
Cameron added that the OCNA’s objection goes “beyond the exigencies of the news cycle and gets deeper into questions of governmental control of the media, asking who would get to decide who was a journalist.”
“Would the Clerk tell the Globe and Mail or the CBC that they aren’t allowed to record Council proceedings because they didn’t obtain prior approval?” he asked, adding, “It is wholly unclear what problem this amendment is trying to solve.”
Tara Lindemann voiced opposition to the ban as well, speaking as a journalist and part-time reporter for The Press. She also challenged Council to record all public meetings and to better the livestream to see and know everyone attending and speaking.
Following Council’s vote to proceed with the ban after these delegations, Lindemann wrote to Council: “This is a time for thoughtful courage, and not an overreaction and blind support to get someone thrown out of chambers to serve you both personally and professionally…. Rather, you need to remember to serve all of us … and demonstrate a remote understanding of the future and how media and public restrictions interfere with the whole.”
On November 27, Council acknowledged it had no way to enforce a recording ban. Councillor John Metcalfe motioned to remove the ban. He said, “In my mind it’s just too difficult with cell phones and different types of recording…. We have it recorded ourselves for the proper version, so to limit recordings is a moot point.”
Councillor Dan Lawrence agreed: “Recording what goes on here in Council chambers, especially by the press, is a necessity.”
Councillor Marie Trainer also voiced support for the press’ right to record, noting her concern is only for the ability to stop proceedings if there is a disruption.
Council unanimously removed the ban and passed the remainder of the procedural bylaw update, which includes bans for display signs, verbal disruptions, and the use of indecent or insulting language whether verbally or visually.
