City looks at return to normal in council chamber

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/03/2022 (1620 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The distance between city council members should shrink back to its pre-pandemic state to set an example for other Winnipeggers, according to one city councillor.

Coun. Shawn Nason is calling on Mayor Brian Bowman to end the socially distanced seating arrangement in the council chamber, which has given some councillors back row seats at separate tables.

“If 16 elected representatives can’t sit around this room at the same table once a month — how can we expect people to come to Winnipeg to eat, shop and play?” Nason asked in a Facebook post.

In an interview, Nason said he believes the removal of provincial public health orders shows it’s safe enough for councillors to sit closer to each other, as they did before the pandemic.

“We’re wanting a return to normal. The province has lifted the mandates. We want economic development to start. We should be setting the example by getting back to work and sitting beside each other in the council chamber,” he said.

Since the pandemic hit, all council and committee meetings have been held in the council chamber, instead of allowing some to occur in smaller committee rooms. Five councillors were also moved to spots within a second row of tables, instead of their traditional seats.

It can be tough to catch the attention of the Speaker to join debates from his back-row seat, Nason said.

“I’ve had many situations where I don’t have the opportunity to catch the eye of the Speaker and I have to get up and go to the Speaker,” he said.

Council members should continue to have the option to attend meetings remotely, since that allows greater participation when they travel, said Nason.

“We’re moving past (COVID). We have to learn to live with it,” he said.

Another councillor noted that while provincial public health orders have been lifted, COVID-19 is still spreading in the community.

“I do think physical distancing can play a good role going forward. (For) my meetings this week, a lot of folks were thinking we were going to get back together in person only to find they were close contacts (of a COVID-19 case). Omicron is still really hitting the city… and we’re just not through it,” said Coun. Sherri Rollins.

However, she said she would be comfortable sitting with all councillors at one table again if the decision is made since that would still allow about a metre between council members.

Mayor Brian Bowman was not available for an interview, but his office said the idea will be considered.

“Input is being sought from members of council. Once a decision has been made, the mayor will respond to the councillor’s request,” wrote spokesperson Jeremy Davis.

If Nason’s call to reunite councillors at the central table is granted, one councillor may still have to wait. A previous council decision requires all council members and political staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend city hall in person. That means Coun. Vivian Santos, who is not vaccinated, would be excluded.

A motion to rescind the vaccination requirement for elected officials and their staff is scheduled for debate at the March 24 council meeting.

In an email, city spokesperson Tamara Forlanski confirmed facial masks and physical distancing are still encouraged in the council chamber but COVID-19 capacity limits for members of the public have ended.

Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga