[Alberta's Child]

I've sat on the other side of the table in dozens of public meetings as a representative of a municipal government.

It was common for these towns to ask people to state their names and addresses for the record if they were making public statements at a zoning board hearing, town council meeting, etc.

They ask for this information so it is known whether the person lives in the jurisdiction or if he/she even has any stake in the issues that are under discussion. Anyone can attend a public meeting, but the town council or zoning board will naturally determine that they don't give a damn what someone who lives and works miles away from the town has to say.

[rxsid]

"It was common for these towns to ask people to state their names and addresses for the record if they were making public statements at a zoning board hearing, town council meeting, etc.

They ask for this information so it is known whether the person lives in the jurisdiction or if he/she even has any stake in the issues that are under discussion. Anyone can attend a public meeting, but the town council or zoning board will naturally determine that they don't give a damn what someone who lives and works miles away from the town has to say."

This is a valid point. Perhaps, in this new volatile world of doxing, they can ask the speaker to state their name and affirm they live in the jurisdiction (instead of giving their actual address).