The hour was admittedly late. Somewhere after 11 p.m. Council had been sitting in public session since 6 p.m. Too much had been squeezed into one night — general committee, planning committee, council. But all of that was no excuse for council dismissing a motion by Coun. Alex Bierk to amend the inadequate procedural bylaw regarding “call the vote” (“call the question”) without any debate at all.

By a vote of 7-4, Bierk’s motion went down in flames, with only Bierk, and councillors Joy Lachica, Keith Riel and Matt Crowley supporting a review of a bylaw increasingly abused by this council.

For readers who have things other than council procedure on their minds at this season of the year, a quick review is in order.

A motion to “call the question” by any member of this council is not debatable. If passed by a simple........

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