City council wrestled with the mayor's motion to end councillors' severance pay in Winnipeg on Wednesday, but ultimately shot it down.
Council voted 10-6 against ending severance, meaning Mayor Brian Bowman was unable to accomplish his campaign promise.
Last week, Bowman's executive policy committee members also refused to vote on the controversial item and passed the buck to city council.
Councillors who voted to keep severance say they need it in case they lose their seat and have difficulty finding another job. Councillors are not eligible for EI.
Bowman said if all of council was defeated or chose not to run in the next election, it would cost taxpayers up to $750,000, a bonus he calls political payout.
That terminology triggered an emotional response from Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski).
"(The) language I heard regarding the severance is disgusting. It is severance. It is not political payout,” said Eadie.
“It was recommended to help people transition back into the workforce,” said Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry).
Other councillors argued they already make enough money.
"I believe that we are being paid adequately for what we are doing and I know that many Winnipeggers agree,” said Coun. Janice Lukes (St. Norbert).
"Ending the severance closes the trust gap between politicians and the people who elect us,” said Coun. Scott Gillingham (St. James – Brooklands).
"It's more than most Winnipeggers see in an entire year's salary, Madame speaker,” Bowman said at the council meeting Wednesday.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation also urged councillors to end the practice of taking severance.
Councillors Eadie, Gerbasi, Mayes, Schreyer, Browaty, Sharma, Allard, Gilroy, Pagtakhan and Dobson voted against ending severance.
Mayor Bowman and councillors Gillingham, Morantz, Lukes, Wyatt and Orlikow voted in favour of ending severance.
Bowman had also campaigned on cutting EPC salaries and councillor perks, which was agreed upon by his inner circle last week.
Council voted in favour Wednesday of ending the top-up pay for EPC and for limiting perks.
- with a report from Jeff Keele
