City manager accuses local media of pushing ‘conspiracy theory’ about council meetings

City manager Jim Puffalt has accused the local media of pushing a “conspiracy theory” about the possible reason why city administration locked out the media from city council meetings.

In an email on April 10, Puffalt provided council with an update about the measures the City of Moose Jaw was taking to deal with the coronavirus pandemic in the community. He also provided an update about city administration’s weekly pandemic updates it was holding at city hall.

‘Conspiracy theory’ about crisis

“We held our weekly press briefing on Thursday (April 9) and were berated by the Moose Jaw Express, who stayed with their conspiracy theory and are using the Covid-19 crises to advance their narrative that the virtual Council Meetings were implemented to prevent the press from being able to personally view Council Meetings and Press Briefings, at a Press Briefing where we were being live-streamed and interacting with the media,” Puffalt wrote in the email, which the Express obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request about council’s communications from January to May 2020.

During that April 9 press briefing, the Express asked why the municipality had suddenly locked out the local media from attending council meetings and the pandemic press briefings in person.

The media was allowed to attend the first pandemic press briefing on March 19 in person — with proper physical distancing followed — but was then locked out starting on March 27. Also, media were allowed to attend the March 23 regular council meeting in person — again, with proper physical distancing followed — but was then locked out starting April 13.

‘Ridiculous conclusion’

“This is not logical and Councils are following a similar process, yet they are the only media in the country that we can find that came to such a ridiculous conclusion. A virtual meeting does not prevent them from doing their job,” Puffalt continued. “Further, it is unreasonable and increases the risk to our staff for the Express, as the Radio stations have not raised the issue, to demand to be in present in the Council Chambers regardless of restrictions on size of groups, distancing guidelines and safe work zones.”

During one of the online pandemic press conferences, the Express suggested that the media be allowed to have one reporter attend the press briefings in person and act as a pool reporter. This is an approach Regina media takes when it covers the provincial government’s weekly pandemic press conferences, where one journalist sits in the room and asks questions on behalf of others. However, city administration and the mayor were not receptive to this suggestion.

Municipal advertising

“We took it (the conversation about media access) off-line as they (the Express) were very argumentative and at one point completely self-serving suggesting that we should put more advertising in their paper to let the seniors know what is happening,” wrote Puffalt.

During that April 9 meeting, it was the reporter from the MJ Independent blog — and not the reporter from the Express — who suggested that the municipality advertise more in the newspaper since not all seniors are on social media. The City of Moose Jaw appears to advertise more online than anywhere else.

“In an e-mail later that afternoon, the new excuses they came up with were that they could not hear or see how everyone (council) voted,” Puffalt added. “Those might be valid concerns and easily corrected by recorded votes and having them join as observers in the public portion of the teams Council Meeting so they can hear as well as for future briefings in team meetings.”

Media simply ‘whining’

In response, Coun. Dawn Luhning blasted the Express over its concerns.

“I could give a rat’s ass how MJ Express feels about our virtual meetings. If they have a problem with it, that’s their issue,” she wrote. “They can join the meetings virtually also; no one is stopping them. What the hell else are we supposed to do when social distancing in this province is mandated that there be no more than 10 people in a room at once? I actually believe that is still too many.

“I will NOT put myself at risk or anyone else, for Council to operate in person. Sorry. Technology is too advanced for this bogus argument,” she added. “What a waste of admin’s time and ours to be listening to their whining. Especially with so many other important issues to focus on.”

Coun. Scott McMann’s reply was a little more charitable.

“Until meetings resume at a face to face level, I think all votes should be a recorded vote,” he wrote. “That should appease the media and any citizens who may also be wondering.”