Council backs statement against harassment

Crowsnest Pass council directed administration May 5 to prepare a statement saying harassment, insults and online abuse will not be tolerated.

Councillor Dean Ward raised the issue during council inquiries and notices of motion, saying it followed a discussion with Doug Griffiths of 13 Ways during a strategic planning session.

Ward said council should not engage in hostile Facebook discussions, particularly when comments shift from legitimate questions into personal attacks.

“I don’t think council should be engaging in the garbage of Facebook,” said Ward.

He said criticism becomes a problem when people begin insulting or attacking others, especially municipal staff.

“[I] was more focused on insults and stuff levelled at our staff, and I don’t think we should be tolerating that,” said Ward.

Deputy CAO Kirstin Colucci said the idea was to make a blanket statement that council would not condone harassment, name calling or insults directed at staff.

“The statement is that council will not condone harassment, name calling, insulting staff,” said Colucci.

Ward said such a statement would also show municipal staff that council supports them.

Mayor Pat Rypien said the statement should also speak more broadly to negativity directed toward council.

Councillor Doreen Johnson said the statement should apply to conduct directed at staff, council and the public.

“It’s just that it’s not tolerated. We do not condone it, whether it’s addressed at council, at the staff, or at other public,” said Doreen Johnson.

Councillor Doreen Glavin said she would like to see the municipality consider turning off public comments on its Facebook page when official information is posted. She said residents with questions could call the municipal office.

“If you have a question or concern, you can phone into the office. That would solve that problem,” said Glavin.

Council then passed a motion directing administration to create a statement.

The final wording of the statement had not been presented by the end of the meeting.