Wayne Acorn has announced plans to run for reeve for the R.M. of Prince Albert. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Political unrest

R.M. council feud spills over to election

Oct 8, 2020 | 1:55 PM

For the second time in nine months, Rural Municipality (R.M.) of Prince Albert Councillor Wayne Acorn has been removed from an R.M. council meeting and is now pledging to raise his issues during his campaign for reeve.

Acorn has not attended a meeting since February, when he clenched his fist at Reeve Eric Schmalz and was subsequently asked to leave. However after announcing plans to run for reeve in the upcoming election, Acorn did show up to Thursday morning’s meeting.

A motion passed by council last March, declared Acorn was suspended from representing the R.M. of Prince Albert No. 461 on any and all committees, bodies and associations until such time that he attend and complete educational training for ethical and respectful conduct.

Acorn was also ordered to present a verbal and written apology to the reeve, council and administration at a regular R.M. council meeting. The motion was the second item on the agenda at Thursday’s meeting.

“Can we add something to the agenda?” Acorn asked.

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Acorn then proceeded to state he was sorry if he offended any members of administration or council. Reeve Eric Schmalz then asked Acorn if he had provided a written copy of his apology.

“No I haven’t but I can … that’s not a problem,” Acorn replied.

Schmalz then asked Acorn if he had sought any educational training with regard to the behaviour exhibited.

“You can talk to my lawyer Mr. Lavoie from Stonechild and Lavoie,” Acorn replied.

“There’s a resolution on the table that councillor Acorn has failed to take the opportunity to remedy his conduct from the meeting of Feb. 13, 2020, and as such is in contradiction with the code of ethics that requires a member to treat every person, including members of council and employees with understanding and respect, and that he be removed from this meeting of council,” Schmalz read.

The motion was made by Councillor Richard Wilson and received unanimous support from the other councillors at the table.

Acorn left the building. Outside he told paNOW he was not surprised by how the events unfolded.

“We’ll deal with it at the election and the only thing for me, and my wife who is running [as a councillor] in my area, Div. 5, we want to run for honestly and integrity back in the R.M.,” he said.

The events that sparked the initial code of ethics breach have never been publicly discussed, but Acorn told paNOW he was frustrated with how council handled the purchase of a new CAT.

Wayne Acorn claims to have proof that he was unjustly treated. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Acorn has also explained the money he was paid by the R.M., for the months he did not attend council, was paid out in part to the food bank, and another $800 was sent back to the R.M.’s lawyer.

“The R.M. office won’t cash it and what they are saying is because I had put in for it,” he said.

When asked for comment on Thursday’s proceedings, Schmalz told paNOW there was a resolution before council and council was simply enforcing it.

The R.M.’s election has been scheduled for Nov. 9.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell