Below is a plain-language explanation, grounded in the BC Community Charter (which governs municipalities like Peachland), with a careful assessment of whether the Peachland meetings you’ve referenced appear to violate, stretch, or obfuscate the rules.

This is written so a lay reader can understand it, but it is legally accurate and defensible.

What is an “in camera” meeting? (Plain English)

An in camera meeting is a portion of a council meeting that is closed to the public. Council is allowed to exclude the public only for very specific reasons, set out in law.

Think of it like this:

• Open meeting = default rule
• In camera meeting = narrow exception

Councils do not have a general right to meet in secret. They must be able to point to a specific legal justification every time they close a meeting.

The governing law in BC (in simple terms)

For municipalities like Peachland, the key law is the Community Charter, not the Municipalities Act.

The core rule (Community Charter, s. 89)

All council meetings must be open to the public

unless

This is an open government statute. Courts interpret it narrowly.

When is an in camera meeting actually allowed?

Under Community Charter s. 90, council may meet in camera only to discuss specific topics, including:

• Land acquisition or disposition

  (e.g., negotiating to buy or sell property, where disclosure could harm the municipality’s bargaining position)