The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors' meetings won't be coming to a computer screen near you, after a motion to look into live-streaming the board meetings online was soundly defeated on March 19.
The district has already taken a number of steps to allow the board to continue meeting during the COVID-19 pandemic, including passing a motion allowing board members to attend meetings remotely and increasing social distancing in the board chambers.
At the board's regular meeting on Thursday, director Kyle Sampson put forward a motion asking the board to consider live-streaming the meetings online to allow residents to watch the proceedings without having to physically come to the board offices in Prince George.
"Geographically our district is a very large area at the best of times," Sampson said. "Not everybody can drive to Prince George to attend a meeting. I think it's important for residents to take part. I think it's important that we proactive and accessible."
Live-streaming board of director meetings and city council meetings is done by other regional districts and municipalities in B.C., including the City of Prince George, Sampson said. Sampson is a Prince George city councillor in addition to serving on the regional district board.
Director Joan Atkinson said while she supports making the board accessible to the public, she doubts there is enough public interest to warrant the move.
"There is very little input from the public," she said. "I don't know that the extra work for staff and cost will be warranted, for what the participation is."
Director Dannielle Alan said many people in rural areas don't have access to high speed internet capable of live-streaming video, and live-streaming the meetings would encourage directors to grandstand for the camera. She said she hasn't heard any requests from her constituents asking for the service.
"The whole way the board acts will change if there's cameras," director Warren Wilson added.
Director Allan Frederick from McBride also said most people in his area couldn't view a live-stream online anyway.
"If you're seven kilometres from the village (of McBride) you can't live-stream," Frederick said. "We don't have high-speed internet."
Chairman Art Kaehn said while the board meetings are not particularly accessible to the public, the regional district does conduct public hearings out in communities and directors are available to the public if they want to talk about issues.
"We are out there," Kaehn said.
The motion to look into live-streaming the meetings was defeated, with only Sampson voting in favour.
