Wyatt ignores colleagues’ calls to step away after sex assault charge, takes seat at council meeting

WINNIPEG — Mayor Scott Gillingham said he would welcome a review of the rules that allow a city councillor to continue working despite being charged with a criminal offence.

Coun. Russ Wyatt, who was charged with sexual assault this week in relation to an alleged incident late last year, showed up to Thursday’s council meeting. His colleagues had said Wednesday he should step back from politics to deal with the matter.

There is no mechanism to force him to step away. The City of Winnipeg Charter allows city councillors to work while they undergo criminal proceedings.

“I’m open to the province taking a look at the current provisions within the charter and updating them. I don’t know the last time they’ve been updated,” Gillingham told reporters Thursday. “I think that there’s certainly some room for improvement.”

The charter dictates that a member of council forfeits their seat if they’re convicted of certain serious criminal offences, but not if they’re charged.

Gillingham said he would want to discuss the issue with his colleagues before making a formal request to the provincial government for a review.

Wyatt, who represents Transcona, refused to speak to reporters as he walked to his office at city hall Thursday morning, minutes before the meeting started.

When asked if he would step away from his duties, he deferred all questions to his lawyer.

Wyatt was arrested and charged Tuesday with sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. Winnipeg police said sex crimes investigators began probing the allegations in February after a sexual assault report was submitted.

The victim told investigators he met the accused on a website and then in person several times, police said.

It’s alleged that during a gathering in December in the east area of the city, the victim was sexually assaulted after being given an illicit drug. The man sought medical attention after he left the home.

Wyatt, 56, took his assigned seat in the council chamber while his colleagues spoke amongst themselves.

He got up and spoke in relation to several items on the agenda.

As he did so, Coun. Cindy Gilroy turned her back to him. She later told reporters she did it on purpose.

“I’m very uncomfortable with the situation. I want to make sure I’m making a stance so that I am supporting the many victims out there and the people in the room that maybe do not feel comfortable with the presence,” Gilroy said.

When asked about it, the mayor said he supported Gilroy and called Wyatt’s presence a “distraction.”

Gilroy and Coun. Evan Duncan also called for the city charter to be reviewed and changed for such situations.

“We have to be held to a higher standard as elected people,” Gilroy said.

City officials looked at implementing a forced leave of absence for councillors charged with a crime after Wyatt was accused of criminal sexual impropriety in 2018, but were prevented from proceeding because of provincial legislation.

Councillors do have the power to hold a vote to remove a colleague from serving on city subcommittees. Wyatt currently sits on the property and development committee.

Ahead of Thursday’s council meeting, several of Wyatt’s colleagues asked him to step away from council.

“This is a big distraction. I think he should step back and let the rest of us do the work,” Coun. Markus Chambers said.

Chambers (Seine River-St. Norbert) called for the meeting to proceed as scheduled and said “the people’s business must continue.”

Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) echoed those comments.

“It might be a good idea to, you know, focus on (himself) right now and have him step away to deal with what he needs to deal with,” she told reporters before the meeting. “But today, he’s got a motion before council.”

Wyatt was supposed to introduce a motion calling for the city to strike a “citizen-based summit into the mental health/addictions/urban health crisis,” but when the motion came up in council he asked that it be delayed by 90 days.

Wyatt was elected to council in 2002 and held the Transcona seat until 2018, when he decided not to run for re-election after he was charged criminally, though he claimed it was for other reasons.

He took a leave from council for what city officials deemed a family matter in January 2018, but in March of that year, Wyatt wrote to the Winnipeg Free Press to say he was seeking treatment at a rehabilitation centre for alcohol and substance disorders.

One month later, Wyatt was charged with sex assault after a woman told police he had attacked her in his home in January. The charge was later stayed.

Evan Roitenberg, Wyatt’s lawyer, said Wednesday his client will fight the charges.

“We will not be trying this case in the media,” he said.

“Mr. Wyatt is innocent and we look forward to having a trial on the merits.”

Gillingham and Gilroy encouraged Transcona residents to think about who they want to support in October’s municipal election.

» Winnipeg Free Press