A new provincial guide on open meetings is reminding local governments across British Columbia that most council business must be conducted in public, reinforcing transparency rules that apply to everything from in-person meetings to Zoom calls and email chains.
The updated guide from the BC Ombudsperson, released in January, outlines best practices for municipalities and other local government bodies when it comes to public access to meetings and decision-making.
“Open meetings are fundamental to fair, accountable and transparent local government decision-making,” the report states, noting that allowing the public to observe elected officials at work helps build trust and democratic legitimacy.
Under provincial legislation, meetings of local government councils, boards and committees must generally be open to the public unless specific circumstances allow them to be closed.
Those exceptions include matters such as legal issues, land negotiations, labour relations and certain law enforcement matters. Even then, councils must pass a resolution in an open meeting explaining why a discussion is being closed.
The guide also highlights a growing challenge for municipalities in the digital age. Electronic communication between council members, including email chains or group messages, can be considered a meeting if they move decision-making forward on local government business.
That means councils must be careful not to make decisions outside of public view.
Virtual meetings, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, must still allow the public to observe proceedings. According to the Ombudsperson guide, electronic meetings are only permitted if participants can hear or watch the meeting and the public is given a way to access the open portion of the discussion.
Across Haida Gwaii, local municipalities have taken different approaches to public access.
In Port Clements, council meets once a month and provides an option for members of the public to join meetings through Microsoft Teams. Links are posted through the municipality’s website.
The Village of Daajing Giids has taken a more public-facing approach. Council meetings are held twice a month and livestreamed through the municipal website, and recordings are kept online for residents to watch later.
The Ombudsperson report notes that livestreams and online recordings can improve transparency and accessibility, especially for residents who cannot attend meetings in person.
In Masset, however, accessing council information online is more difficult. Council meets twice a month in the council chambers, but agendas and minutes are not regularly posted on the municipality’s website, with the most recent documents currently available dating back to October 2025.
The municipality’s website does not regularly post agendas or minutes, with the most recent documents currently available dating back to October 2025.
Council meetings are conducted in person and via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, but the virtual meeting link is not publicly available to residents.
The mayor also participates remotely after moving off Haida Gwaii.
The Ombudsperson guide does not comment on specific municipalities but emphasizes that open meetings are a cornerstone of local democracy.
The report says meetings should be structured so the public can watch or hear council deliberations and decision-making whenever possible.
It also encourages local governments to provide advance notice of meetings, publish agendas and make information accessible online to help residents stay informed.
In smaller communities, the guide notes that local governments may need to use a mix of tools, including livestreams, online postings and physical notices in public spaces, to ensure residents can follow council business.
The principle behind those recommendations is simple.
When the public can observe how decisions are made, the report says, it strengthens accountability and public confidence in local government.
