Although we are not fans of Gary McHale, he should be allowed to speak to city council. Native land claims are the number one issue just now in Brantford. McHale has many supporters for his point of view and should be allowed to express it to council for 10 minutes like anyone else.
City councillors this week changed the rules for its public forum meetings, which take place four times a year. Speakers now must be residents of Brantford. McHale, who planned to talk at the Sept. 29 meeting, lives in Binbrook, south of Hamilton.
Mayor Mike Hancock denied that council is trying to prevent anyone from speaking. He said time is limited at the meetings and council wants to make sure as many Brantford residents as possible have a chance to speak.
That may be so. However, it seems more than a coincidence that councillors changed the rule just when McHale was planning to address them.
Two years ago, the city refused to rent a hall to McHale for a meeting. Hancock was concerned about safety and, we suspect, didn't want the city perceived as supporting McHale.
But sometimes democracy involves hearing out people that elected officials don't want to hear. Closing the door on McHale makes him look like a martyr and gives weight to his opinion that natives receive different treatment than non-natives.
The ban against non-residents won't work. McHale only has to find someone from Brantford who will deliver his message.
And we know council is bound to allow exceptions for folks it doesn't mind listening to.
So, council should bite the bullet and give McHale his 10 minutes to talk. Then move on to the next speaker.