WHEREAS Section 94.1 of the Community Charter mandates that public notices be published in a local newspaper, such as the Prince George Citizen, the City’s paper of record, unless no local paper exists, which does not apply to Prince George;
WHEREAS Council’s recent resolution prioritizes local, provincial, and Canadian advertising sources over American platforms like Meta, supporting the wholly locally owned Prince George Citizen and the regional economy;
WHEREAS the City’s shift to Meta, city websites, and email subscriptions for public notices limits access for residents without digital platforms, countering the Community Charter’s intent for equitable access and risking non-compliance;
WHEREAS the Prince George Citizen’s investigative journalism has driven transparency reforms, such as enhanced capital project oversight and whistleblower policies;
WHEREAS the Prince George Citizen maintains comprehensive archives, serving as the primary research source for councillors, staff, and residents seeking historical and current city information, far more accessible than the City’s website, library, or UNBC resources, and the loss of this continuing, updated archive would be a significant detriment to the community;
WHEREAS reinstating advertising in the Citizen aligns with Council’s commitment to transparency, accountability, community engagement, and preserving civic history;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Prince George directs the Chief Administrative Officer to:
- Reinstate public notice advertising in the Prince George Citizen for all notices required under Section 94.1 of the Community Charter, effective Q1 2026, with a budget of up to $100,000 annually, funded from the 2026 communications budget.
- Reduce advertising on American platforms like Meta by 50% by Q2 2026, redirecting funds to the Citizen and other Canadian media, in line with Council’s resolution.
- Publish a transparency report by Q3 2026, detailing advertising expenditures by platform (e.g., Citizen, Meta, city website) and public notice reach (e.g., print vs. digital metrics), to be shared on the City’s website and in the 2026 Annual Report.
- Engage residents via a Q1 2026 town hall to explain the return to Citizen advertising, highlighting its archival value and gathering feedback on notice accessibility.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT quarterly updates on advertising compliance, costs, and archival access be provided to Council, starting Q2 2026, to ensure accountability.