Shaw TV will not be broadcasting Burnaby council meetings live on channel four on Monday nights after Oct. 15.
Coun. Nick Volkow brought the cancellation up at Monday night's council meeting,
"For years I've been raving against the incremental dismantling of (community coverage)," he said at the meeting.
Volkow urged viewers to write the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission - Ottawa, Ont. Canada, K1A 0N2 - regarding the live coverage cancellation.
Burnaby council meetings currently air live on Monday nights at 7 p.m., and air again on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m.
The live meetings are being replaced on Shaw by Western Hockey League coverage this fall, according to a letter Shaw sent to the city.
Mayor Derek Corrigan recalled when Shaw used to send volunteers to film council meetings in chamber, adding his son had learned the trade filming Burnaby meetings.
When Shaw cancelled its volunteer program, the city had cameras installed in the council chamber so live taping and broadcasting could continue.
"To lose that access is really a shame," Corrigan said.
Shaw had used local council coverage as a selling point to the community at one time, he pointed out.
He warned viewers to be wary of big companies that make promises to the community, mentioning Enbridge and Kinder Morgan.
"How long do those promises last?" he said.
Shaw had specifically asked to cover council when it moved to channel four, according to Coun. Sav Dhaliwal, to provide information on local issues.
"This is something they went to the CRTC about, saying, this is how they're going to serve the community," he said.
Decreasing access to council coverage is something that might affect voter turnout, he added, as the media and people in general are not talking about local issues.
He also mentioned that local media no longer attend council meetings, relying on Shaw and City of Burnaby webcasts to watch instead.
Council passed a resolution to send a letter to the CRTC regarding the cancellation.
Shaw plans to broadcast the meetings on another day of the week, with options being presented to the city.
Burnaby council meeting webcasts can still be viewed live at Burnaby.ca. The link is in the middle of the page, below job openings.
Live coverage has been cancelled in New Westminster as of Oct. 15, as well. Meetings will be broadcast on channel four the following Tuesday and Saturday at noon, according to the City of New Westminster's website.
