Proposal calls for reduced public speaking time at city hall to shorten meetings

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This article was published 06/03/2025 (385 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeggers making presentations at city hall could soon be required to do so in half the time previously allotted, in hopes of making marathon meetings shorter.

A new motion proposes a series of governance changes, including one that would reduce speaking time to five minutes from 10 for public delegations at hearings, council sessions and committee meetings.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said the change would help shorten city council and committee meetings, noting some begin at 9:30 a.m. and wind up adjourning late at night.

“We have people that take time off work and… sometimes they can wait all day for just the chance to speak. So, we need to make this more efficient. I’m a firm believer that people can say what they need to say… within five minutes,” said Gillingham.

While extensions to speaking time could be granted, that would also be capped at five minutes, if council approves the changes. Council members making a delegation to a committee would also have a five-minute time limit.

Some members of the public are concerned the changes will allow less feedback on key council decisions.

“We would definitely lose public input. We would definitely lose an ability to address the intricacies of the subject being raised…. Five minutes isn’t enough time for someone to formulate a convincing argument,” said Erna Buffie.

Buffie agrees the meetings are often excessively long. On Feb. 6, she waited eight hours to speak at a property and development committee meeting before giving up at 5:30 p.m. Her turn to speak was announced at 9 p.m.

She believes council should keep the 10-minute time limit for public presentations and instead impose a 10-minute time limit, without extensions, for council members to ask delegates questions.

“They ought to limit the time councillors get to ask questions and speak…. (Some) just talk endlessly,” said Buffie.

Gillingham said Winnipeg would still have a very transparent government even with the new delegation time limit and he is open to debating speaking time limits for council members.

“I don’t think we are as efficient as we could be as a council and I think we could do a better at job at times, if we were more focused in our comments. I would welcome that opportunity to look at that,” he said.

Coun. Janice Lukes, chairwoman of public works, said she’s hopeful the five-minute limit will ensure more Winnipeggers get the chance to speak at meetings and help cut down on sessions that stretch late into the night.

“I absolutely do not believe the best decisions are made in a 12- or 13-hour meeting…. After sitting in these very long meetings, your brain becomes exhausted, you become tired, you’re not as sharp. I think it’s important to have… meaningful debate and dialogue,” said Lukes (Waverley West).

The councillor said she’s also open to the idea of speaking limits for council members.

“I will say there sometimes is a lot of hot air and theatrics,” she said.

Meanwhile, another proposed change would impose tighter monitoring upon council members. Those who show up late to council and committee meetings or leave before they adjourn would have their arrival and departure times recorded in meeting minutes.

Those minutes are publicly released on the city’s website.

Coun. Devi Sharma, council’s Speaker and governance chairwoman, said that would formalize tracking that already takes place.

“The public deserves to know that their elected representatives are actively participating in decision making…. It is important to know who is at the table when a vote is cast,” said Sharma (Old Kildonan).

The motion does not state a specific concern about councillors missing meeting time.

Last year, the mayor publicly criticized Coun. Russ Wyatt, stating the councillor had been “consistently late to many of his obligations and meetings he’s supposed to be at, if he shows up at all.”

On Thursday, the mayor said he heard feedback following that comment, indicating some public concern about councillor attendance, as well.

“The public has hired us. They expect us to show up for work on time and be accountable for the time that we’re putting into meetings,” said Gillingham.

Wyatt (Transcona) said he doesn’t believe he’s late more often than other councillors, noting city council meetings scheduled at 9:30 a.m. often start at 9:45 a.m. or later.

“I’ve been able to manage (my time) as a single parent. I’m not saying that as an excuse. My record is the same as (everyone) else, even juggling that at the same time,” he said.

The governance committee is slated to vote on the changes Tuesday, which would then require council approval.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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