Bike Winnipeg calling for Russ Wyatt to be removed from city committee following 'offensive' comments
A local organization is calling on a Winnipeg councillor to be removed from the public works committee following comments made at a meeting on Tuesday.
In a news release Wednesday, Bike Winnipeg said its executive director Mark Cohoe submitted a presentation on the intersection of Osborne Street and River Avenue.
During the meeting, Bike Winnipeg said Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt was commenting on the report and "characterized Cohoe and other delegations as 'Bike Nazis.'"
"Use of the term 'Nazi' is not only offensive, it is also harmful to generations affected by Nazi Germany's murder of six million Jews in the 1930s and 1940s," Bike Winnipeg said in a release.
"The fact an elected official would use such language in a public meeting without immediate censure should be of concern to every Winnipeg citizen."
Bike Winnipeg is now calling for Wyatt to be removed from the public works committee for violation of the Code of Conduct for councillors.
Mayor Scott Gillingham was asked about the incident Wednesday, saying Wyatt's comments were unacceptable.
"I would encourage the councillor to retract his comments and to address Bike Winnipeg," said Gillingham.
Speaking to the media Wednesday afternoon, Wyatt said he doesn't deny using the term and said he would take the suggestion to apologize into consideration.
"When I said that, it was out of frustration. A number of us councillors have been advocating for bike paths to be built," said Wyatt. "They're coming to say, 'take lanes away from cars, people shouldn't be driving cars.'"
Wyatt said to him, the word Nazi means dictator – someone who tells others how to live their lives.
"That's really what it's coming down to. You hear from them speaking in the committee, they're saying, 'Here's how people should live their life.'"
Just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Wyatt issued an emailed statement saying he has read the Bike Winnipeg release, and regrets his choice of words.
"In terms of saying 'Bicycle Nazis,' which was not referring to any one person specifically, as is being claimed now, (as I would never call any person that name), was expressed out of a sense of frustration, as noted above, but was a very poor choice of words, which I regret, and therefore at this opportunity do wish to humbly apologize for," he said in the email.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton stabbed with toothbrush and broken broom handle: victim's family
The family of one of Robert Pickton's victims says the convicted serial killer suffered an incredibly violent death at the hands of another inmate.
'It feels like freedom': Why some Albertans like going nude in nature
Few people can say they accidentally purchased a nude beach — but Shelley can. When she saw a piece of land she could fondly remember camping on was up for sale, she inquired about it and ended up purchasing it. She soon found that there were already inhabitants on it.
Father who killed one-year-old son with axe may be allowed to travel in southwestern Ontario
A Mennonite father who killed his one-year-old son with an axe may be allowed to travel to parts of southern Ontario in the coming months
Daughter of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt files court petition to remove father's last name
A daughter of actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt filed paperwork to legally remove "Pitt" from her name on the day she turned 18.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
Kimmich slams 'racist' survey that says 1 in 5 Germans want more white players in the national team
Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich has slammed as "absolutely racist" a survey and its findings that one in five of his compatriots would prefer more white players on the national team.
Tick season is underway in Ontario. Here's how to protect yourself
Tick season is well underway and there is a new species of ticks causing new diseases, which is why you need to take steps to protect yourself.
Trudeau endorses proposal outlined by Biden to wind down Israel-Hamas war
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is endorsing a proposal put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday that seeks to bring about the end of the Israel-Hamas war.
Republicans join Trump's attacks on justice system and campaign of vengeance after guilty verdict
Embracing Donald Trump's strategy of blaming the U.S. justice system after his historic guilty verdict, Republicans in Congress are fervently enlisting themselves in his campaign of vengeance and political retribution in the GOP bid to reclaim the White House.