Winnipeg councillor 'angry' after criticism for driving with kids during council meeting
The way a councillor participated in a meeting is driving debate at Winnipeg City Hall.
During Thursday’s council meeting, Councillor Matt Allard (St. Boniface) was participating virtually. At one point, he is behind the wheel driving. His two children are with him.
This was pointed out to Speaker Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) who told him to disconnect.
“Councillor Allard, if I could just ask you to maybe disconnect while you can get back to your desk,” said Sharma.
Allard protested the directive.
“I picked up my child from daycare, I don’t see why I should be precluded from participation,” he said. Sharma insisted, saying proper decorum required Allard to be sitting in an office or somewhere else remotely.
“We can talk offline, I’m concerned about your safety and I was alerted to this. We will talk later.”
Some of Allard’s councillor colleagues say he should not have been behind the wheel and listening in on the meeting at the same time. Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) weighed in on the floor of Council.
“When I see someone driving during a meeting, I just think that that’s distracted driving,” she said. On Friday, Councillor Shawn Nason (Transcona) spoke to CTV News.
“It is diverting your attention away from the task at hand and safe operation of a motor vehicle,” said Nason.
Allard says he followed council protocol and the rules of the road.
He says he was sitting, using a hands-free device at the time, and that his daughter was working the mute/unmute button in case he had to speak.
“I’m really angry at some of the comments my colleagues have made,” Allard said.
Allard is unhappy with his fellow councillors who called him out. When asked if he wants an apology, he says he will speak to them privately.
“Slander and libel happens in politics and that’s par for the course,” said Allard. “But what they did is they, they challenged my integrity and my competency as a father. My number one job is keeping those kids safe.”
Allard feels he successfully argued his point at council as he says he was able to continue with the meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.