Public works chair refers councilor's 'bicycle Nazis' to integrity commissioner – Winnipeg Free Press

The chairwoman of the city's Department of Public Works said she would take her colleague's comments to the integrity commissioner after Transcona Kuhn. Russ Wyatt described the local organization as “bicycle Nazis”.

White, who expressed frustration with the group's demands after a presentation Tuesday by Bike Winnipeg executive director Mark Coho on safety measures for bicyclists, said “the bike nazis want to remove all lanes for cars” before the cuts.

Community Works Chairman Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said she didn't call out the comment because she didn't hear it – but used the bucket six times to “rein in” Wyatt's behavior during the meeting.

“Sometimes there's just a lot going on, and honestly, sometimes I can just tune a guy out,” he said Thursday.

He said he was taking the matter to the integrity commissioner to clarify that the comment was inappropriate.

“When someone uses a Nazi term and calls (someone) a Nazi, I have to respond,” he said.

Wyatt apologized for the remark after Bike Winnipeg called for his removal from the public works committee in a news release the next day. Mayor Scott Gillingham called the comments “absolutely unacceptable” on Wednesday.

Wyatt said Wednesday he apologized to the integrity commissioner and spoke with Lukes to discuss it.

“Whether he applies or not, I'm still going to continue to work with Counselor Lux,” White said.

According to the City of Winnipeg's website, the integrity commissioner's role is to investigate allegations of code of conduct violations against council members, help council members identify potential conflicts of interest and ethical violations, and oversee the city's voluntary lobbying registry. The office was created in 2017, and that year defendant Sherry Walsh was appointed as the Integrity Commissioner. He remains in the role.

Lukes said that while it is possible to remove a council member from the committee, it requires the full vote of the integrity commissioner, the steering committee and the council. It's not something he's seen during his time at City Hall.

He said he's not sure how he would vote if he were nominated.

“This thing. Councilor White, from a public works, engineering and historical perspective, he – when he's there, when he pays attention – he makes a big difference. Because he is very smart,” he says.

White said he would speak to the commissioner and suggested that Lux's response was political in nature.

“Councillor Loucks is a well-known conservative in south Winnipeg who is considering a (federal) nomination for the Conservatives, and I think there's a bit of politics involved with me contacting the NDP federally,” he said.

Lux dismissed the accusation as “ridiculous”.

Wyatt said on Facebook Tuesday that he is in talks with the federal NDP about running for the Elmwood-Transcona seat recently vacated by New Democrat Daniel Blaikie. The date of the by-election has not yet been announced.

Section 9 of the council's code of conduct states that all members “must treat members of the public, each other, city employees and their own employees with respect without abuse, harassment or intimidation.”

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