City councillors of Saint John, Joanna Killen and Brent Harris, assert that they are being penalized for their sympathy toward public sector union members currently on strike in City Hall. Killen and Harris were abruptly dismissed from their council committee obligations and their assignations to different governmental bodies, following a council vote on Tuesday night. This decision is awaiting the result of an investigation regarding a potential violation of the city’s conduct bylaw.
Killen and Harris had been notified of a behavioural complaint against them a day prior to the council vote, with a mere ten-day duration offered to prepare their case for an external solicitor. The duo shared that the conclusion of the council meeting was both sudden and unanticipated, taking them by complete surprise.
Killen expressed her disconcertment, saying, “It took us off guard. We were handed this unpredictable punishment without any prior warning or conjecture. Not a drop of information was communicated to us about this.”
Unfortunately, the city remained silent on the matter on Wednesday, and the nature of the conduct complaint remains uncompromised. No public discourse was conducted on the motion initiated.
Harris voiced out his concern for representation, stating, “Together, we have been entrusted by 10,000 Saint John residents to stand for them, and we were denied a fair chance to perform our elected duties.”
Both councillors have been under extensive scrutiny in city hall recently due to their support of the striking CUPE Local 486 professionals, which included visits to the strike’s headquarters.
“This is a clear misuse of authority,” said Stephen Drost, CUPE New Brunswick’s regional vice-president. “It’s blatant disregard for democratic values, and above all, it’s an assault on the labour force of Saint John.”
The city’s Mayor, Donna Reardon, failed to respond to a request for an interview on Wednesday. However, she issued a statement promptly post the council meeting. According to her, the punitive vote was in response to “the behaviours of two members and the threat their actions might impose on local governance.”
Killen and Harris affirmed that they sought professional legal advice regarding the issue. Unfortunately, no official timeline has been disclosed for the duration of this third-party investigation.
