Council Question and Comment Period Pilot Project

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Starting May 16, the RMOW is launching a Council Meeting Public Question & Comment Period Pilot Project to improve the flow of our meetings. We want to improve the quality of interactions with Council and hopefully the quantity of speakers who can be heard in an evening.

The pilot project includes:

  • allowing the public to make comments as well as ask questions in person
  • reducing the time limit for each speaker from five to three minutes, to increase the number of people who can participate
  • focusing the Public Question and Comment Period to a 30-minutes window
  • requesting speakers register to speak in advance of the meeting, online or in person, with their name, topic and question(s), if applicable
  • limiting speakers’ questions or comments to agenda topics, including the agenda topics from the prior two meetings
  • allowing the chairperson discretion to extend the time limit

The goal is to focus comments and provide more predictable timelines for meetings. We also want to ensure this interaction is accessible as possible for anyone who may wish to attend or speak, recognizing public speaking can be challenging.

Sign up to speak at an upcoming Council meeting

Take the Council Question and Comment Period Exit Survey

Prefer to write an email to council to appear on an agenda? Send an email to Mayor and Council.

We’d love to your input on our current engagement projects! Learn more about the projects.

Please complete the survey below. It will remain open for the duration of the Pilot Project, May 2023 to October 2023.

For reference, below are the existing and Pilot Project parameters:

Existing ParametersPilot Project Parameters

Members of the public may ask a question on any topic

Only questions are allowed, no comments

The time limit for each speaker to pose their question is five minutes

There is no set limit for the number of speakers or the length of the Public Q&A Period

Speakers are required to state their name and address/neighbourhood

There is no requirement or opportunity to register in advance or at the meeting

The opportunity for a speaker to ask further questions is at the discretion of the Chair


Expand to allow the public to make comments as well as ask questions;

Reduce the time limit for each speaker from 5 to 3 minutes;

The overall time allocated to this agenda item be limited to up to 30 minutes;

Request speakers to sign up to speak in advance of the meeting online or in person before the meeting begins including their name, topic and, if applicable, question(s);

Restrict speaker’s questions or comments to agenda topics only, including agenda topics from the prior two meetings;

The order of speakers will respect the order of sign up;

Allow the Chair the discretion to extend the time limit.

Speakers will no longer need to publicly state their name and address.


Starting May 16, the RMOW is launching a Council Meeting Public Question & Comment Period Pilot Project to improve the flow of our meetings. We want to improve the quality of interactions with Council and hopefully the quantity of speakers who can be heard in an evening.

The pilot project includes:

  • allowing the public to make comments as well as ask questions in person
  • reducing the time limit for each speaker from five to three minutes, to increase the number of people who can participate
  • focusing the Public Question and Comment Period to a 30-minutes window
  • requesting speakers register to speak in advance of the meeting, online or in person, with their name, topic and question(s), if applicable
  • limiting speakers’ questions or comments to agenda topics, including the agenda topics from the prior two meetings
  • allowing the chairperson discretion to extend the time limit

The goal is to focus comments and provide more predictable timelines for meetings. We also want to ensure this interaction is accessible as possible for anyone who may wish to attend or speak, recognizing public speaking can be challenging.

Sign up to speak at an upcoming Council meeting

Take the Council Question and Comment Period Exit Survey

Prefer to write an email to council to appear on an agenda? Send an email to Mayor and Council.

We’d love to your input on our current engagement projects! Learn more about the projects.

Please complete the survey below. It will remain open for the duration of the Pilot Project, May 2023 to October 2023.

For reference, below are the existing and Pilot Project parameters:

Existing ParametersPilot Project Parameters

Members of the public may ask a question on any topic

Only questions are allowed, no comments

The time limit for each speaker to pose their question is five minutes

There is no set limit for the number of speakers or the length of the Public Q&A Period

Speakers are required to state their name and address/neighbourhood

There is no requirement or opportunity to register in advance or at the meeting

The opportunity for a speaker to ask further questions is at the discretion of the Chair


Expand to allow the public to make comments as well as ask questions;

Reduce the time limit for each speaker from 5 to 3 minutes;

The overall time allocated to this agenda item be limited to up to 30 minutes;

Request speakers to sign up to speak in advance of the meeting online or in person before the meeting begins including their name, topic and, if applicable, question(s);

Restrict speaker’s questions or comments to agenda topics only, including agenda topics from the prior two meetings;

The order of speakers will respect the order of sign up;

Allow the Chair the discretion to extend the time limit.

Speakers will no longer need to publicly state their name and address.


  • Sign up to speak at a Council Meeting

    Thank you for your interest in speaking at an upcoming Council meeting.   Please fill out the Speaker Registration Form below.  

    Please note, during the Pilot Project period questions or comments are limited to the day's agenda topics only plus agenda topics from the prior two Council Meetings. 

    Other topics may still be raised with Council by emailing Mayor and Council at corporate@whistler.ca to include your letter in the next agenda package.

    Note: Once you have completed the sign-up form, you will receive an email with a copy of your speaker registration submission. Staff will only contact registrants if there is an issue or the meeting is cancelled.
    If you do not hear from staff, you will be on the list to speak at your requested Council meeting date.

    As part of the Public Comment and Question Period Pilot Project (Pilot Project), pre-registration is required to address Mayor and Council.  The Pilot Project aims to improve efficiency and allow for more attendees to address Council.  

    Starting May 16, the Pilot Project will be testing the following speaker parameters:

    • Questions or comments to current agenda topics only, including agenda topics from the prior two Meetings;
    • Speakers can make comments or ask questions; 
    • The time limit for each speaker is a maximum of three (3) minutes; 
    • The order of speakers will be the order of sign up; and
    • The overall time allocated to this agenda item be limited to up to 30 minutes (the Chair has the discretion to extend the time limit).

    This information is being collected by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) under Section 26 (e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Your personal information will be collected for the purposes of informing and considering the Public Comment and Question Period Pilot Project. The personal information collected includes your first and last name and email address. Your comment(s) or question(s) will be made public at the next Regular Council Meeting and may be included in future reports to Council. By submitting the form, you consent to your personal information being collected by Bang the Table, which stores data on a server located in Canada and provides it to the RMOW. Your personal information will be stored securely by the RMOW and deleted one year after the completion of the project. If you have questions about how your personal information is being collected, used or shared please contact communications@whistler.ca.

    Register to speak
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  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Council Question and Comment Period Exit Survey


    The Pilot Project’s purpose is to test an adjusted format for the Public Comment and Question Period with the goal to:
    • allow comments as well as questions
    • helps members of the public to know where they fall on agenda
    • give RMOW staff and Council time to prepare responses, resulting in more satisfactory interactions
    • focus this engagement opportunity on the business of Council meetings
    • enhance planning to make the length of meetings more predictable and transparent

    The pilot project will take place from May through October 2023 and the survey will remain open for the duration of the project.  In October 2023, Council will assess the adjusted format along with the input from the below survey.  

    Thank you for your input! 

    This information is being collected by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) under Section 26 (e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Your personal information will be collected for the purposes of informing and considering the Public Comment and Question Period Pilot Project. The personal information collected includes your first and last name and email address. Your comment(s) or question(s) will be made public at the next Regular Council Meeting and may be included in future reports to Council. By submitting the form, you consent to your personal information being collected by Bang the Table, which stores data on a server located in Canada and provides it to the RMOW. Your personal information will be stored securely by the RMOW and deleted one year after the completion of the project. If you have questions about how your personal information is being collected, used or shared please contact communications@whistler.ca.

    Take Survey
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Page last updated: 24 Nov 2023, 12:00 PM