Edmonton police commission, city council criticized over private meeting
Global News
The Edmonton Police Commission and city council are both facing criticism and questions, following a more than two-hour-long meeting behind closed doors Wednesday.
The Edmonton Police Commission and city council are both facing criticism and questions following a more than two-hour-long meeting behind closed doors on Wednesday.
The Edmonton Police Commission is appointed by and accountable to city council. It consists of two councillors and nine citizens who live and work in Edmonton, with the aim of representing the views of all residents on policing matters, according to its website.
All Edmonton Police Commission meetings are held in public, with citizens able to watch either virtually or in person.
Two councillors voted against going in private Wednesday: Michael Janz and Anne Stevenson, the latter of whom is on the commission.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi insisted the move was necessary.
“This was our first meeting. This new commission and this new council have never met before,” Sohi said.
Council does have legal requirements it must meet in order to hold private meetings. The mayor insisted those requirements were met.
“We wanna make sure that when people are sharing their personal stories, they’re sharing some of the vulnerabilities, that their privacy is protected,” he explained.