Video - Thapar vs Quesnel Council (Round 3)

On CKPG - Quesnel's Acting Mayor (Councillor) Laurey Roodenburg and Councillor Sushil Thapar debate the outcome of the 3rd Censure Motion/Restrictions imposed on Councillor Thapar

Acting Mayor Roodenburg did not apologize for the 3rd Censure Motion saying it had to be done while Councillor Thapar accused his colleagues of being dishonest, closed minded and not transparent with the taxpayers' of Quesnel

View the video here

What do you think? Is Quesnel Council in the right here or Councillor Thapar?

Sushil Thapar -- "I've done nothing wrong"

As I predicted earlier this week -- Quesnel Council imposed its' 3rd Censure Motion on Councillor Sushil Thapar and then proceeded to impose additional restrictions on him as well. The 3rd censure motion will not, in my view, stop Sushil Thapar from speaking out and may in fact, embolden him to speak out more often and not less...

From today's (Friday, July 20th) Quesnel Cariboo Observer:

Stripped of his Committees and having to seek Quesnel Council permission before representing the City, Councillor Sushil Thapar says he will continue to work for the taxpayers' of Quesnel

Monday night, Council unanimously passed a motion to censure Thapar for a third time, while stripping him of Committee appointments, removing him from rotating Acting Mayor and requiring him to seek Council permission prior to representing the City

It's unfortunate we had to take this measures, Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom said.  Council quoted a number of concerns for the restrictions including respectful communications and how confidential information is released

In the June 29th issue of the Cariboo Observer, Thapar was quoted as calling his colleagues "freakin' idiots" after hearing of the alleged "wrongful" dismissal of long-term City employee Meriel Wild

The termination could have huge implications for taxpayers

Thapar apologized to his colleagues for his remarks during Monday's meeting

However, he maintains the restrictions imposed upon him will not deter him from continuing to work "on behalf of the taxpayers"

Thapar also said the sanctions placed on him only served to "discredit" him both as a Quesnel City Councillor and as a person

"I've done nothing wrong", he stated

" I did not break my oath, I have an oath to taxpayers.  I will not back down", further stated Thapar

Thapar has been censured twice before.  The first instance, it was alleged he was disrespectful to Quesnel City Staff -- a claim that Thapar denies.  The second censure was due to an alleged breach of confidentiality - another claim he (Thapar) adamantly denies

Sjostrom says the City and Quesnel City Council is moving on, regardless of Thapar.  "Nobody is hiding anything", she said.  "We are in compliance.  We're done"

Council has requested a In-Camera (private) meeting with Thapar to discuss his future role with the City of Quesnel and Quesnel City Council

"Any open, public meeting I will attend", stated Thapar, adding he questions the authority of Council to impose the restrictions

"I was elected by the people", Thapar says, "Not these (Quesnel Council) people"

Pat Morton speaks out on 3rd Thapar Censure Motion

Update #1 (Wed July 18th) - I had one individual suggest that I now support the actions of Sushil Thapar over Mary Sjostrom in regards to speaking out on human resource issues or finance issues.  When I applaud the general theme of Mr. Thapar's actions -- open/transparency, I can not support how he goes about it on a personal level and on that - I still support the actions of the clear majority of Quesnel Council.  When it comes to finance/human resource issues -- there is a clear place for those discussions, that is "In-Camera" or in private meetings between elected officials and not through the media...

I ran the story because it is political news in Quesnel and my readers' decide how they feel about it by commenting on or not commenting on the story...

I trust that this makes my position clear as it relates to the recent list of stories involving Sushil Thapar - SBF


Original Blog Post:


Courtesy of QuesnelNews.com:

Thapar apologized to the mayor, council and the public for his unprofessional comments in the June 29th edition of the Cariboo Observer

Thapar censured and sanctioned by council at last nights meeting

It appears the council members that do not agree with Thapar’s open dialogue
with the public are doing whatever they can to keep some of their “dirty work”
from becoming public. This is the third time council has tried to put a muzzle on
Thapar but as Thapar says he was elected by the people to represent the people and
he will continue to bring financial and important matters forward.

What has he done that has made the mayor and the rest of council so angry?

1. Thapar brought forth information about the city manager John Steyck that was provided to the council executive committee but withheld from Thapar and (former Quesnel City Councillor Ron) Paull which was crucial to their decision as to recommend hiring Steyck.
2. Thapar brought forth information about the spending habits of the mayor, city council and city managers.
3. Thapar questioned the city on how Steyck was paid when he resigned and the information provided to the public and media came from the response I received from the city on my (Pat Morton) Freedom of Information request.
4. Thapar backed up Human Resources manager, Muriel Wild when she was apparently fired and no information provided to the media came from in-camera meetings.

Any information Thapar provided to the public did not come from in-camera meetings which is what this council is accusing him of. At the meeting last night it appeared council is using in-camera meetings inappropriately. As these meetings are to discuss, land, legal and labour issues I don’t understand how they can criticize Thapar’s actions and berate him just because they are behind closed doors and they feel it is an open forum for any comments.

The mayor stated other cities have censured and sanctioned council members and referred to Prince George, Fort St John and Langley. When you review these situations you will see they do not compare to the reason for this council to censure and sanction Thapar.

Prince George, the council member provided in-camera minutes to the media, Fort St John it was stated the reason for the mayor’s problems was "unacceptable" conduct and demands that he not be left alone with any female member of the city's staff., and in Langley the Mayor provided some false information to the council.

I feel if the city council has a problem with their reputation perhaps they should look at their actions and instead of criticizing Thapar for his conduct. They should be emulating him as he is trying show how open and transparent they all should be.

Region Wrap-Up - Oct 28th edition

In Quesnel:

* Quesnel Councillor Sushil Thapar reports on all projects over budget and how much long term debt the City of Quesnel has acquired in the last few years.  See that here.  Also - Mr. Thapar and Mary Sjostrom were discussing this on the radio this morning.  Should Thapar/Sjostrom be re-elected, I wonder if their clearly polarized relationship will continue for the 2011-2014 term of Quesnel Council

* Quesnel Community Economic Development Corporation snags another award - see more details here

In Williams Lake:

* The new Business Expansion/Attraction Strategy Task Force have their first meeting this week - see more here

* This past Wednesday - in the online comment section of the Williams Lake Tribune, user "True54321" said this, in part:

She (Kerry Cook) was in part responsible for the community policing debaucle and the resignation of 32 people in one day including Bob MacIntosh

Interesting comment - I've also heard this confirmed through others as well...if true, it doesn't speak well of our local Community Policing team.  Maybe connected to the decision to no longer have a personal presence for Community Policing at Community Corner, see the blog post I did on that here

* A Reminder that there are three  "All Candidate Forums" in Williams Lake next week.  On November 2nd from 5:30pm - 8:00pm at the Tourism Discovery Centre for WL City Councillor candidates only and at WL Seniors' Village on Thursday, November 3rd at 7:00pm and also Thursday, Nov 3rd from 11:45am - 1:30pm for the 3 WL Mayoralty Candidates only at Beeotcheese's Restaurant (by Lo's Florist). Contact WL Chamber of Commerce at 250-392-5025 or visitors@telus.net for ticket purchase information for the WL Mayoralty Candidate Forum

Mayoral Race in Quesnel

Yesterday, 3 term Quesnel Councillor Ron Paull decided that he would seek the Office of Mayor - City of Quesnel of which you can read his full press statement here

This Wednesday, there will be 5 weeks until the first Advance Vote on November 9th and Mr. Paull says he'll make his full platform known over this time period including statements on taxation, governance, air quality, economic development, sub regional recreation, the Multi Centre, seniors and youth, health care, freedom of information and sustainability.  You can re-read current Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom's re-election info here

Interesting comments on Mr. Paull on Mary Sjostrom being a "micro-manager".  I can honestly say that my friend Mary Sjostrom is not a micro-manager and I've met with her a number of times including this past July in the Mayor's office and she is truly a warm and caring Mayor and not the cold and "corporate" Mayor that Ron Paull describes her as

The dynamic of this race will be interesting to follow as Sushil Thapar and his supporters are very likely to try and push Mary Sjostrom out of the Mayor's office in Quesnel.   Will even Pat Morton (Ron Paull's partner) get involved with her supporters (note - she ran Quesnelnews.com in the last civic election in 2008)?

In my view - this is virtually a guarantee.  Ms. Morton has never been (and not likely to be) a fan of Mary Sjostrom and if she can - she try very hard to persuade as many voters' to defeat Mary Sjostrom's re-election bid...

Stay tuned as the road to Nov 19th in Quesnel could get rocky....

New Political Website in Quesnel

In the last few civic elections in Quesnel - if you wanted news on who was running and their records, you could visit QuesnelNews.com - see their website here.  This site was previously operated by Quesnel Councillor Ron Paull's partner, Pat Morton.  A cursory look at this website seems to suggest that this website will not play a role in this November's civic election in Quesnel

There is a newly established website by CRD Area 'C' resident Arthur Topham called Quesnel Cariboo Sentinel - view the website here.  From the look of things - it appears that this new website plus debate over on eQuesnel.com - view that website here, will be the places to go to get your political news in Quesnel for this November's civic elections in the North Cariboo

For the record - Arthur Topham, in addition to Quesnel resident Ron Campbell, has been part of the "team" that has publicly questioned Mary Sjostrom expenses as Quesnel Councillor (2006-2008) and Quesnel Mayor (2008-present) plus being the "cheerleader team" supporting Quesnel Councillor Sushil Thapar in his highly charged questioning of Mary Sjostrom and Quesnel Councillors Coralee Oakes, L-A Roodenburg about their spending habits in addition to publicly questioning the hiring of current Quesnel City Manager John Stecyk

SBF

Mary Sjostrom cleared in spending debacle in Quesnel

Recently - the City of Quesnel Auditor, currently Ron Rasmussen, who also is the Cariboo Regional District Auditor of record, was asked to look into allegations concerning cheques issued to Mary Sjostrom in her roles as City Councillor from 2006-2008 and Mayor from 2008-present

See below for the official response from Ron Rasmussen:

Now - that Mary Sjostrom has been officially cleared of allegations coming from Sushil Thapar - I hope that he will choose to move on to more topical matters, but sadly I know he won't because this is all about the civic election in Quesnel.  If he doesn't like how Mary Sjostrom has performed as Mayor (and for myself - she's done an excellent job) then he should do the honourable thing and run against her in November for the Quesnel Mayor's post.  This also applies to Quesnel Councillor Ron Paull, but sadly the both of them will not sum up the courage to do so, I'm afraid.  These gentlemen seem to find it easier to throw mud and be negative, rather than offer constructive criticism and provide positive solutions to the problems that face Quesnel

SBF

Quesnel Mayor under "siege"

With the municipal election in Quesnel now entering in the "critical" phase - it seems people who disagree with the job that Mary Sjostrom has done as the Mayor of Quesnel have decided to pull the gloves off

Two letters to the editor have been submitted to various media in which they continue the fight that Councillor Sushil Thapar has started including one from Mr. Thapar's colleague, Ron Paull

See the letter to the editor from Quesnel Councillor Ron Paull here
See the letter to the editor from Quesnel resident Ron Campbell here

See below for a video from a recent Quesnel Council meeting between Mayor Sjostrom and Quesnel Councillors Sushil Thapar and Ron Paull on her spending habits and I'll let you be the judge on who is right and who is wrong:

Wednesday News Wrap - Sept 14th edition

In 100 Mile House:


* Proposed new community library for Lac La Hache  - see here
* Weekend vandalism in Centennial Park closes trail - see here
*Agriplex Society has successfully obtained its building permit for repairs to the old Stan Halcro Arena - see here
* Opening 15 long-term care at Fishcher Place not a priority for Interior Health - see here
* Letter writer Lee Wood of Burnaby has "interesting" idea on how to revert HST to GST/PST in less than 18 months - see here

In Williams Lake:


* Scott Nelson pitches a "one dollar a year" idea for seniors' & Cariboo Lodge - see the video here and see the response from Bill Reid, a local senior and a member of the Williams Lake and Area Seniors' Advisory Council.  See that here

Finally - Earlier in the week, CBC Daybreak North interviewed Alberto De Feo (CAO - District of Lake Country) regarding the proposed Municipal Auditor-General.  You can listen to it here

In Quesnel:


* The on-going war between Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom and Quesnel Councillor Sushil Thapar continues with the latest salvo being Thapar accusing Sjostrom of putting in for claims for items like "a vehicle windshield", "chocolates", and a "pedicure" and he is demanding that Sjostrom repay City of Quesnel taxpayers' for these items.  Sjostrom, for her part, says "When will it end?".  She also says that these claims of Thapar are "false" as Quesnel City Staff follow strict procedures in order to approve any claim request(s) that come in for approval

Editor's Note - I wonder how much lower Quesnel Council politics can sink??  I will say that, unlike in previous years, Sushil Thapar is really pushing the "limits" on these statements of his and this is "out of character" for him, especially for the period of 2006-spring of 2009, where he didn't usually make these sort of "very hard hitting"comments as he was quite mellow before this...

Weekly News Wrap - August 19th edition

In Quesnel:

* Quesnel Councillor Sushil Thapar rallies against Quesnel Council on spending habits - see here
* Quesnel Cariboo Observer Editor Autumn MacDonald says - Pay Attention to the "he said/she said" debate on excessive spending by Quesnel Council - see here
* Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom meets with BC Forest Minister Steve Thomson over North Cariboo Multi-Centre proposal - see here

In Williams Lake:

* McLeese Lake rancher charged with animal cruelty - see here
* Annual 4-H "Show and Sale" starts today and runs until Wednesday - see here
* Cariboo Fire Center responds to 36 fires totalling 125 Ha - see here
* WL Council goes to UBCM Convention in late Sept with a few requests including the move of the Station House Gallery - see here (Question - why is Brian Carruthers speaking for Council on this item and next one, isn't that the job of either Mayor Cook or the Acting Mayor - presently Councillor Geoff Bourdon??)
* Early local gov't election in 2014 - see here
* Local resident complains about state of South Lakeside Drive - see here (Note - this letter has generated some interesting discussion including the question on whether the Pellet Plant should be moved elsewhere, given its' location to Williams Lake)
* Bob Simpson asks - Should we allow internet voting for municipal/provncial elections? - see here (Note - I agree 110% that we should at least consider the idea.  It may solve the declining election participation rate)
* Interesting in forming your own rural Fire Department?? - Talk to the Cariboo Regional District first - see here
* Is Skip Trippett (Community Grant Review Chair) indepedent? - Greg Fry (local radio reporter) look at this question - see here

In 100 Mile House:

* Local planning council holds AGM - see here
* Local teachers association walks from bargaining - see here
* Canim Lake Postal Office rises again - see here
* TNRD Area 'E' Director Sally Watson works on forest fuel mitigation projects in Loon Lake/South Green Lake areas' - see here

End of Week News...

In Quesnel:

* Quesnel City Councillor Mike Cave explains his views on the recent censure motion against Quesnel Councillor Sushil Thapar and the issue around paving Anderson Drive - see here
* Quesnel resident Victor Hegan explains his personal opposition to the HST - see here
* Quesnel Cariboo Observer columnist and former CRD Area 'B' Director Andy Motherwell looks at the legacy of a farm family - see here

In Williams Lake:

* Debate on HST in "Letters to the Editor" - pro-HST letter from Tolko CEO Brad Thorlakson (see here) and anti-HST letter from Summer McFayden of the BC Fed of Labour (see here)
* Tribune columnist Dean Fulton says a recent report by the Northwest Institute looking at the two environmental reviews processes (BC + Canada) on the recently failed Prosperity Mine project "lacks credibility" - see here.  Also - West Coast Environmental Law has an "interesting" take on this situation as well - see here
* Community Grant Review Panel visits Williams Lake on August 18th - see here
* Reconstruction under way at Husky's on Highway #97 - see here