'A sad day': Judge rules against request for judicial review by St. Andrews mayor
A request by the Mayor of the RM of St. Andrews asking for a review of the decision to strip her of her powers nearly two years ago was dismissed by a Manitoba judge.
On Monday, Justice Victor Toews denied Mayor Joy Sul’s request for a judicial review of the decision by councillors in the community, saying Sul, “has not established by clear evidence any bad faith or fraudulent intent.”
DJ Sigmundson, the CAO of the community, said it was important the decision by Toews was made.
“Now the municipality can move forward, put this behind us, and start to pull together as a team and move towards new and exciting projects,” he said.
During a special council meeting on Dec. 16, 2019, a majority of councillors voted to remove Mayor Joy Sul as chairperson and spokesperson for the rural municipality, duties typically held by the mayor.
Councillor John Preun was named as the chair and spokesperson for the community.
The decision left Sul, who was elected in 2018 with nearly 63 per cent of the vote, as mayor in title only.
Sul requested a judicial review of the decision. A two-day hearing on the matter took place in June at the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench.
‘DEMOCRACY HAS ENDED IN ST. ANDREWS’
Speaking on Tuesday, Sul called the decision a “sad day for the RM of St. Andrews,” and said it tells the residents of St. Andrews that their voices and votes don’t matter.
“As far as I am concerned, democracy has ended in St. Andrews,” she said.
“In fact, this decision allows other councillors in any municipality in Manitoba to nullify the role of their mayor or reeve, reducing the role to a title only.”
She said the fact that a group of councillors can band together to make changes could lead to concerning decisions being made.
“If a group of councillors can change the role of mayor, what is stopping them from increasing their salaries?” Sul said.
She added the decision could also deter more people from running for mayor or reeve in other Manitoba communities.
Sul added she is currently speaking with her lawyer regarding her next steps.
-With files from CTV’s Danton Unger.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.