Labour leaders, councillors urge Wyatt to reconsider re-election bid

City councillors and labour leaders called on incumbent Transcona councillor Russ Wyatt to reconsider his decision to seek re-election while facing sexual assault charges.

A day after the longtime councillor announced he would be running again, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500 and the Winnipeg Labour Council, joined by Couns. Cindy Gilroy and Evan Duncan, told reporters Wyatt would not be able to serve Transcona while fighting multiple sexual assault charges in court and should step aside.

The community of Transcona, traditionally known for its working-class roots, has “been through enough drama,” the president of the city’s largest union said.

“I am not declaring him guilty of anything, the courts will decide that, and his lawyer says that he is innocent. I’m stating a plain fact about capacity. Every hour spent on legal defence is an hour not spent on Transcona,” CUPE 500 president Patrick Troughton said at city hall Tuesday afternoon.

Melissa Dvorak, president of the Winnipeg Labour Council, said the organization wants to see Wyatt drop out of the race.

“An election is not a courtroom … These are extraordinary serious charges, an elected office carries extraordinary responsibility,” she said.

Wyatt filed his registration papers to run for councillor on Monday, one day before Tuesday’s nomination deadline.

In March, police said Wyatt had been charged with sexual assault related to an incident in December 2025. Police said last month that further charges had been laid, accusing him of sexual assault in October 2023.

Wyatt has denied the allegations.

Duncan said that while he and Gilroy typically disagree on political issues, they felt it was important to speak out after their colleague’s announcement.

“Every hour spent on legal defence is an hour not spent on Transcona.”

“I’m disappointed again that the councillor from Transcona is not prioritizing Transcona residents and Winnipeg residents, but unfortunately, this is a theme that I’ve seen over the last several months,” Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said.

When Wyatt attended a council meeting a day after police confirmed the charges in March, Gilroy turned her chair away from her colleagues and faced the gallery when he spoke.

The Daniel McIntyre councillor repeated her calls for changes to legislation that would bar people facing criminal charges from running for city office.

“It’s important that we make sure that our workforce is safe, and that the public is safe, and that’s what this is really about today,” she said.

Wyatt said some on council did not want him to “hold the establishment to account,” in a text message sent to the Free Press.

“I’m not surprised that my decision to run has not been universally embraced, especially by those on council who, one way or another, have voted for things that negatively affect working people, such as our new disastrous Transit routes,” he said via text.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said at a news conference Thursday he plans to introduce a motion this week calling on the province to “see what changes could be made to the Winnipeg Charter.”

The City of Winnipeg Charter — which is provincial law — dictates that a member of council automatically forfeits their seat if convicted of certain serious criminal offences, but not if they’re simply charged.

“I believe Coun. Wyatt should focus on the charges before him.”

“I believe Coun. Wyatt should focus on the charges before him and turn his attention to that,” Gillingham said.

Mayoral candidate Kevin Klein said that while Wyatt is considered innocent until proven guilty, elected officials should be held to a higher standard, and he would “encourage Russ (Wyatt) to evaluate those standards.”

“In fairness to the citizens of Transcona… you need to deal with your personal problems first, and maybe come back after that, maybe run for the next election,” he said. “But I think it’s important to clear that up.”

Premier Wab Kinew said the province is considering changes to the Charter, but it was unlikely they would come during the fall legislative session.

The premier declined to comment “in front of the kids” on Wyatt’s decision to run again while making an education announcement Tuesday at Kelvin High School.

Wyatt said in a statement Monday he was putting his name forward again because of “the mess this city is in today.”

He was first elected to council in 2002. In 2018, he took a leave from council, citing family issues. He was charged with sexual assault later that year after a woman told police he had attacked her in his home. The charge was stayed by Crown prosecutors the following year.

He returned to politics and was re-elected in Transcona in 2022.

Wyatt will run against Shawn Nason (who was Transcona councillor from 2018 to 2022), Chris Giesbrecht, Lora Meseman and Nathine Dagdick when Winnipeggers go to the polls on Oct. 28.

Meseman, who attended Tuesday’s news conference, said she supported the calls made by the two councillors and labour groups.

“I actually feel that (Wyatt’s) approach is very disrespectful to our Transcona residents,” she said. “Many people are frustrated.”

— with files from Joyanne Pursaga

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca