Speak at a City Council meeting about an agenda item

Prepare to speak

Know what to expect by watching our video. It's full of tips and rules to help you prepare.

• Speak at Council - English subtitles
• 观看关于在市议会上发言的提示及守则视频
• 觀看關於在市議會上發言的提示及守則視頻
• ਆ ਵੀਡੀਉ ਦੇਖੋ ਵੈਨਕੂਵਰ ਸਿਟੀ ਕੌਂਸਲ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਨੁਕਤੇ ਅਤੇ ਨਿਯਮ

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  Check in before you speak

  Due to COVID-19, it's recommended that you participate by phone or send written comments.

  Speaker process

  1. After you request to speak, you will receive a confirmation that you’re on the speaker’s list and detailed instructions on how to participate (via telephone or in-person). Note While you may now register to speak in person, we continue to strongly encourage your participation via telephone during COVID-19 to assist in limiting contact with others. This is also the most efficient way to speak to Council.
  2. Follow the meeting by watching the livestream or following @VanCityClerk on Twitter External website, opens in new tab to make sure you don’t miss your turn to speak. 

  Speaking by telephone

  1. Call at the start of the item that you signed up to and from the phone number you provided in the request form.
  2. At the end of your turn, you may hang up and continue watching the meeting live online. Your line will be disconnected at any moment to accommodate the next speakers on the line.

  Speaking in-person

  Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces for those 12 and older, even if you are vaccinated.

  When you arrive at City Hall, please follow the updated guidelines posted or as advised by security staff.

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  When it's your turn

  We assign you with a speaker number that shows your position to speak about an agenda item. Numbers are assigned in the order we received requests to speak.

  To keep track of agenda items and speaker numbers, follow our @VanCityClerk Twitter account External website, opens in new tab or watch the meeting live online.

  It's difficult to predict when it'll be your turn to speak – especially for meetings with a lot of speakers – because:

  • Agenda items don't have start times
  • Agendas can be changed during the meeting
  • Speakers can sign up until one hour before the scheduled start of the meeting
  • Council can ask speakers questions after they present, which can take anywhere from 0 to 33 minutes per speaker (three-minute question period × 11 elected officials = 33 minutes) at Council and Standing Committee meetings. Council members still have 5 minutes each to ask questions during Public Hearings.

   Accessibility: a speaker who requires assistance to present to Council and is present at the meeting may have another individual read a statement they have prepared.

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  How long you can speak for and how to prepare

  After staff and consultants make their presentations, the chair of the meeting invites speakers in the order they registered.

  You will have five minutes to speak as an individual or on behalf of an organization. Only one individual speaker or representative speaker from each organization is permitted. You'll be notified when you have 30 seconds left to speak.

    For public hearings only: You have 5 minutes if you speak as an individual or 8 minutes on behalf of other persons or groups. Each person or group representative needs to be present at the public hearing and must not be speakers themselves.

  State your name, organization (if applicable), position on the recommendation (for or against), and rationale.

  After you finish, any member of Council has up to 3 minutes to ask you questions at Council and standing committee meetings and 5 minutes at public hearings.

  Council will hear all registered speakers. If many people signed up, you may have to attend more than one meeting before it's your turn.

  Speaking by phone

  A moderator will assist you during the session. When it's your turn, the moderator will unmute your microphone. At the end of your 5 minutes, you'll be informed if Council has questions for you and to remain on the line.

  You can listen to the meeting while waiting on the phone or on the web livestream.   Mute the livestream when it is your turn to speak.

  If you have a presentation, it will be made visible on the livestream and you will need to say “next” to instruct the moderator to advance to the next slide.

  Virtual participants, including Council, will be able to hear you speak, and ask questions directly, which you can answer over the phone.

  If your call is dropped or disconnected, staff will advise the chair who will give you the opportunity to call back to resume your talk.

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  Presentations and written material

  Presentations

  Email your presentation to speaker.request@vancouver.ca at least one hour before the meeting is scheduled to begin.

  You should receive an acknowledgement email either:

  • Within one business day 
  • Within half an hour prior to the start of the meeting, if submitted on the day of the meeting

  If you haven't received an acknowledgement email in the above timeframes, email speaker.request@vancouver.ca.

    Presentations received less than one hour before the meeting starts aren't accepted. 

    Due to COVID-19, physical material will not be accepted unless received more than 24 hours before the meeting starts.

  Video and presentations are broadcast on the:

  • Screen on the east wall of the Council Chamber behind the meeting chair
  • Computers that councillors use during meetings
  • Screen in the third floor foyer
  • Live webcast

  Audio is broadcast on the:

  • Speakers in the Council Chamber and third floor foyer
  • Live webcast

  Written material

  Send any written material for Council to the City Clerk up until one hour before the meeting starts.

  • For Regular Council, Special Council, and Standing Committee meetings, email the material to speaker.request@vancouver.ca.
  • For public hearings, send your presentation using the public hearing comment form.