Summary#
Council referred Councillor Michael Janz’s motion on meeting speaking time to the Council Services Committee for November 20, 2026. The motion asked City staff to prepare changes to Bylaw 18155, the Council Procedures Bylaw, to set a standard three-minute speaking time for approved speakers at committee and applicable Council meetings, except statutory public hearings. Council did not approve that change.
- The referral motion, moved by Councillor T. Parmar, was carried 12 to 0.
- Councillor E. Rutherford had proposed replacing “approved speakers” with “members of Council.” That amendment was referred too; it was not adopted.
- The materials give no recorded vote on the original motion or the amendment.
What it means for you#
- People who speak at Council or committee meetings: This decision does not change speaking times. If the proposal is later adopted, it would set a three-minute limit for approved speakers at the meetings covered, but not at statutory public hearings.
- City staff: They have not yet been directed to prepare the changes. The motion asking them to do so was referred for committee consideration.
- People attending statutory public hearings: The proposal expressly excluded those hearings.
Money#
No cost information is in the available material.
- The decision does not approve funding or provide an estimate of staff time or other costs.
What is unclear#
- Whether the Council Services Committee will recommend the original motion, the amendment, a different approach, or no change.
- What “approved speakers” and “applicable Council meetings” would cover.
- What speaking-time rules currently apply; the current bylaw text was not provided.
Case for#
- A possible argument for the proposal is that a standard three-minute limit could make speaking time consistent across the meetings it covers. The materials do not state the motion’s rationale.
Case against#
- The materials do not give a stated argument against the proposal. The amendment would have limited the proposed rule to members of Council instead of “approved speakers,” but no reason for that change is recorded.