Why Posting Agendas & Minutes Together Is a Win‑Win for Council and Residents

Making Gull Lake council agendas and minutes available online is a simple step that strengthens openness and stronger community connections.

Across Saskatchewan, many communities are embracing transparency by posting both council agendas and minutes online. Agendas show what’s coming up, while minutes show what was decided. Together, they give residents a clear view of local governance before and after each meeting.

As a former mayor, I know the pressures councils face. I also know that once the process is in place, sharing information becomes quicker, simpler, and more consistent. Gull Lake already posts minutes and bylaws online. The next step is simple: post agendas alongside the minutes.

The Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner has encouraged this practice, noting:

“To support this accountability, municipalities can post the agendas of council and council committee meetings to their website. The benefits of municipalities making information available online are plain to see. First, it increases municipalities’ accountability to the citizenry. Second, it increases citizens’ active participation in civic life.”

This is not about adding work for administration. It’s about making the information already prepared for council more accessible to residents. Posting agendas with minutes is a small change that can have a big impact on trust and participation.

What Councils Can Withhold

Of course, not every detail belongs on a public agenda. Provincial law allows councils to move certain matters into a closed session (in camera), including:

• Personnel matters (hiring, discipline, evaluations)

• Legal advice or litigation (solicitor–client privilege, ongoing lawsuits)

• Land and property negotiations (buying, selling, or leasing municipal land)

• Third‑party business information (confidential commercial or financial details)

• Intergovernmental information (shared in confidence by another government)

• Strategic planning (long‑range or strategic discussions—but no decisions can be made in camera)

Even then, the agenda usually lists the item in general terms, such as “In Camera: Land Negotiations,” so residents know the type of issue being discussed.

Building Trust

Councils often fear that unpopular decisions will be met with criticism. Yet the more residents know, the stronger their understanding—and their feedback—will be. Governing is about making the right decisions for the community and helping people see the reasoning behind them. That’s the heart of transparency and accountability.

Now is the opportune time for Gull Lake to make the move—to take the next step in improving the flow of information. Our neighbors in Maple Creek and Herbert already post agendas and minutes online. Smaller communities like Pense and Leask do the same. They show that openness is not only possible but also practical for towns of every size.

With tools like Facebook Live, residents no longer need to attend meetings in person to stay informed. A livestream paired with posted agendas and minutes creates a complete, accessible record.

Gull Lake has a long history of being proactive. Posting agendas with minutes is another way to build on that tradition. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of strong communities.

Let’s keep moving Gull Lake forward—together.

Blake Campbell

📌 Source: Office of the Saskatchewan Information and Privacy Commissioner, “Council Agendas and Meeting Minutes” (May 15, 2017).

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