Councillor calls new communications strategy “propaganda”

VERNON – Council is in disagreement over a new communications policy, adopted Monday in a split 4-2 vote.

The city’s communications coordinator, Tanya Laing Gahr created the policy and described is as a way to effectively communicate the city’s story to the media, the public, funding bodies and other levels of government.

Coun. Bob Spiers says the strategy is spin doctoring and propaganda.

“Communications is simple,” Spiers says. “I don’t think we need a big elaborate plan that probably would just add costs in the future.”

Coun. Catherine Lord agreed, saying “We’re not big enough to have a spin doctor.”

According to Mayor Rob Sawatzky, this is the first communications plan the city has ever had, and it’s been a long time coming.

“It’s part of putting our house in order, running a business like organization that is responsive to the public and can communicate it to the public,” Sawatzky says.

Sawatzky says issues of “miscommunication, lack of communication, uncertain communication and duplication of communication” takes up a large part of councillor and staff time.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.