Portage la Prairie residents may see some changes, when they attend city Council meetings in the near future. The city's moving forward with by-law changes, to make their question period more accessible, and desirable to residents. They had implemented the measure last year, allowing citizens to ask questions pertaining to the night's agenda, during a period held between their council and committee meetings. Acting on a request from a citizen, they decided to make some changes to the initiative this year.

During this week's Council meeting, council reviewed proposed changes to the by-law. Mayor Irvine Ferris notes while one of those aims to address a citizen's request, the other aims to emphasize their meetings remain civil.

"We're expanding question period to cover other topics besides what was on that particular agenda, that request came from a citizen, so that was done. We also changed some wording around language being used, and that was based upon Brandon's wording in their by-law, they're the other city that has a question period."

While the mayor, who chairs the meeting, has the power to interrupt or cease question period, the by-law emphasizes that point. A line has been added to the city's by-law, stating "The Mayor may interrupt and deny any further question or comment from any person who, if in his or her opinion: a) uses offensive words in referring to any member of council, or to any official or employee of the municipality, or member of the public; b) shouts, immoderately raises his or her voice, uses profane, vulgar or offensive language".

While the goal is to open question period to more questions, Ferris notes they're also making changes to allow for more informed questions from the public.

"The other change we made is the time. Question period will now take place after committee discussions. Part of the reason for that, committee meetings are open to the public and the press, and we've had citizens ask if they could ask questions. They can't, when the committee is in committee, only members of council can ask questions. By moving question period to right after committee they'll get a chance to ask questions about items that were just discussed in committee."

Not all on council were in favour of opening question period to the public, with a recommendation calling for the period to remain as it had in the past. However, that motion was defeated 4-2. Council gave first reading to the by-law changes this week, and second and third reading will come forward at the April 11th meeting.