News Release

HRM Council sessions to hit the Internet October 19

(October 6, 2010) - Residents of Halifax Regional Municipality will soon be able use their computers to watch their elected representatives conduct business.

Vocalocal Media, through its news site www.haligonia.ca, will begin live-streaming regular public sessions of Regional Council as of October 19.

Mayor Peter Kelly welcomed the development, noting it would allow Council proceedings to reach an even wider audience than is already the case.

“By making full use of today’s technology, we will be that much more available to those who elected us,” he said.

The Mayor added he anticipated the new service would also help improve transparency in government.

Steven Morrison, one of the partners in haligonia.ca, said he was excited at the opportunity to partner with HRM to broadcast Council meetings over the Internet. “It’s another way to provide access to the inner workings of Council in a medium which most young people use nowadays,” he said. “It’s all about providing more choice.”

According to Mayor Kelly, computer users will be able to log onto the website and follow prompts to the live feeds. In addition, they will have access to replays of the previous week’s Council session, not only on their computers, but soon on mobile devices as well.

Eastlink TV will continue to broadcast regular meetings of Regional Council.

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
Halifax Regional Municipality
490-4010

Shaune MacKinlay
HRM Public Affairs
490-6531