Councillors vote to remove Wyatt from civic committees

Winnipeg city council has removed Coun. Russ Wyatt, who was charged with sexual assault in March, from seven committees and boards.

Wyatt (Transcona) is facing charges of sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. It’s alleged that during a gathering in December, the victim was sexually assaulted after being given an illicit drug.

“This is a criminal matter. He is innocent until proven guilty… (but), in many businesses, if someone has charges similar to this against them, they’re put on administrative leave until the matter is deal with. So, this is a way for council to take this matter seriously, while still the presumption of innocence remains,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham.

All 14 city council members who took part in the Thursday afternoon vote supported the change.

Wyatt did not participate in the decision and did not return to the city council meeting following a lunch break.

Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) was absent from Thursday’s council meeting.

The decision rescinds Wyatt’s membership on the property and development committee, the Winnipeg Food Council, Transcona Museum Board, Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corp., Winnipeg Public Library Board, Transcona Business Improvement Zone board and Transcona-West Joint Venture Agreement Management Committee.

Wyatt again declared his innocence Thursday morning and vowed to continue doing his job, despite calls from Gillingham and others to step away as he deals with the charges.

Before the vote, Wyatt told reporters he is innocent and stressed he should continue to be presumed innocent by his colleagues, since the matter has not been heard in court.

“We either believe in the rule of law or we don’t. And I want to believe in the rule of law still in this country, whether you (are) an elected official or a private citizen or public citizen,” he said.

“So, this is a way for council to take this matter seriously, while still the presumption of innocence remains.”

Wyatt questioned the motion to remove him from the groups, noting the mayor has often declined comment on many other unresolved legal matters in the past.

“The matter’s before the courts. I believe in the rule of law. I believe this is a partisan political attack and this council chamber is better than that,” he said.

Prior to the vote, Wyatt said he would spend more time in his own ward if moved off the committees.

“I can tell you right now that (this) frees my time up to be able to do a lot of stuff in my ward. Knock on doors, talk to folks,” he said.

The mayor rejected the claim that politics led him to raise a motion related to the criminal allegations.

“This matter is different (than other legal issues). In most businesses, companies, even the City of Winnipeg public service, if… an employee is facing criminal charges, they’re put on administrative leave. For council to do nothing… and just go on as if it’s business as usual, I think would be unfair to the people of Winnipeg who have reached out and expressed concern,” said Gillingham.

“I believe this is a partisan political attack and this council chamber is better than that.”

The mayor said some city council members and members of the public raised safety concerns about Wyatt’s participation in public meetings.

“This is a way to address that, in some manner,” he said.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) called the decision a “pivotal” moment that can help ensure municipal political leaders are held to a high standard.

“(This) is making sure that we have the same set of standards that we would set in any professional businesses, like we would in our own city administration, where we would make sure there was a leave” for those facing criminal charges, said Gilroy.

“We are also making sure that our public service and our staff and residents that (come to) committee (meetings) are feeling safe in the work environment,” she added.

Wyatt will remain a member of city council and will continue to sit on the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee. A civic bylaw requires councillors to represent their wards on community committees.

The City of Winnipeg charter allows city councillors to work while they’re the subject of criminal proceedings.

“In most businesses, companies, even the City of Winnipeg public service, if… an employee is facing criminal charges, they’re put on administrative leave.”

The mayor previously suggested city council could review that rule, and potentially ask the Manitoba government to change Winnipeg’s provincially controlled charter. On Thursday, Gillingham said he’s had only general discussions on doing so, to this point.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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