Cold Lake, AB – Cold Lake City Council will debate the merits of assisting with the hosting of municipal election forums for the 2025 election and those beyond.

“It’s increasingly difficult for our local media and other community organizations to step up and host election forums due to shrinking budgets,” Mayor Copeland said. “Election forums have been an important way for residents to get to know who is running for elected office and make an informed choice – they have been a mainstay at every election the City has held in recent history, and are well attended.”

Councillors debated the merits of the City of Cold Lake providing a grant or other forms of assistance to host an election forum. These could include the cost of a venue, audio production, streaming the forum online, debate moderation, as well as costs associated with preparing the venue and clean up after the event.

“Some might say it’s an easy decision and that if community organizations are no longer positioned to host these events, the municipality should step up to make sure they happen,” Copeland said. “But at the same time, the municipality does not want to create the perception that it is intervening in the process. We do not want to give incumbents a leg up over challengers, so the entire process must be at arms length. It’s important that these forums be neutral, and do not favour one or more candidates over others.”

Discussing the issue at its Sept. 17 Corporate Priorities Meeting, Cold Lake’s elected officials were in general agreement that the City of Cold Lake should look into methods of providing financial assistance to a group or groups who want to take on the responsibility of hosting an election forum. They also cautioned administration that they did not want the city to have a role that can be perceived as influencing the event, however.

“We are confident that our administration can come up with ideas about how the City can help ensure election forums continue as a democratic tradition in Cold Lake, while ensuring a transparent and open approach that guarantees neutrality,” Copeland said. “Forums are a great chance for residents to hear about candidates’ ideas and plans for the community and to make a decision on which direction they want to go. As important as they are to have, its equally important that they be fair.”

Administration will research and draft options for programs that could assist with hosting an election forum or forums and bring the matter back for discussion at a future council meeting.

The next municipal election in Cold Lake will take place on October 20, 2025.

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