PEMBROKE — Renfrew County Warden Peter Emon, as per the County’s Procedural By-law, directed CAO Jim Hutton to lead Council in the reading of the prayer at yesterday’s regular county council meeting.
At that point, County Councillor Jim Gibson called for a ‘point of privilege’ and requested that the prayer not be recited in light of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Warden Peter Emon thanked Coun. Gibson for his request, however ruled that the requirements of the Procedural By-law would be upheld, including the recitation of the prayer.
The Warden followed up by stating “We have a Procedural By-law and it hasn’t been repealed nor changed by County Council, and as such it (the prayer) continues to be part of the Procedural By-law.”
Coun. Gibson challenged the ruling as he felt the Procedural By-law is unlawful.
Warden Emon responded by stating, “At this time I’m not considering changing my ruling. I do not see it as unlawful, but I would suggest we go forward, thank you.”
Coun. Gibson did not receive a seconder for his appeal, therefore his appeal was not allowed and County Council continued as per normal procedure.
Under the Notice of Motions later in the meeting no seconder came forward to support the notice of motion submitted by Coun. Gibson in March 2015 to eliminate the prayer.
However, under New Business, Warden Emon suggested “in light of the recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling that under section 51 of the Procedural By-law County Council could temporarily suspend the rules of procedure to have a discussion to instruct staff to if we want to respond to the Supreme Court ruling.”
Council voted to temporarily suspend the procedural rules to discuss the issue. Warden Emon offered four options to County Council as how to proceed, which included to: 1) suspend the prayer, 2) do nothing, 3) suspend the prayer pending further legal opinion, and 4) continue with the prayer pending further legal opinion. After much discussion a motion was put forward “That staff be directed to seek legal advice with regards to the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision on the County’s Procedural By-law related to prayer,” and the Procedural By-law with regard to the recitation of the prayer was re-instated.
