A full audience gallery during Tuesday night's council meeting in Quesnel.

By Adam Berls

quesnel

‘We can no longer work with this Mayor’: Emotions run high at Quesnel council meeting

Apr 3, 2024 | 2:30 PM

QUESNEL — Emotions were running high during Tuesday night’s council meeting in Quesnel as Mayor Ron Paull resisted calls to step down as Mayor after revelations came to light that his wife was distributing a controversial book. More information was also brought forward on Tuesday, which further puts a strain on the relationship between the City and First Nations in the region.

Councillor Scott Elliot said that since the last council meeting on March 19, he alleges that it has come to light Mayor Paull has also been handing out the controversial book. Mayor Paull says that it is a “false allegation” from Councillor Elliot that he was handing out the book. He also said that he expresses regret that this has happened, saying “I am sorry that it has come to this.”

A march to support truth and reconciliation took place before the council meeting and an estimated 350 to 400 people were in attendance.

Chiefs from multiple First Nations were present at the council meeting and spoke to council and the Mayor. Chief of the Lhtako Dene Nation Clifford Lebrun said that “we can no longer work with this Mayor and we will not work with the city until that issue has been resolved.”

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“We’ve got to do something for reconciliation to make this right and I don’t feel with the Mayor at the helm, that that’s going to happen.” – Councillor Scott Elliott, City of Quesnel

Three Quesnel city councillors, Scott Elliott, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg and Tony Goulet, have all called for the Mayor to step down. Paull has said that he doesn’t “intend on going anywhere.”

From here, a report for a motion of censure against the Mayor will be brought forward at the next city council meeting. A motion of censure is a motion expressing condemnation of an official’s actions.

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X: @AdamBerls

Email: Adam.Berls@pattisonmedia.com