Premier Wab Kinew Urges Coun. Russ Wyatt to Step Down Following Charges

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is calling on Transcona Coun. CBC to step away from his duties at city hall. The call comes as the Winnipeg city councillor faces multiple criminal charges, including sexual assault and administering a noxious substance.

Premier Wab Kinew Calls for Coun. Russ Wyatt to Step Down

This is just awful, what’s been alleged here, Kinew told CBC Radio’s Information Radio. These charges are really nasty, very creepy and just disgusting.

The Winnipeg Police Service announced that Wyatt faces charges stemming from two separate incidents involving different complainants. The first set of charges relates to an incident in December Global News, for which Wyatt was charged in March with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to aggrieve or annoy. He was also charged with possession of a scheduled substance in early April, specifically possessing approximately seven grams of psilocybin following a police search warrant executed at an east-area residence.

Additional charges were announced following a separate investigation into an alleged incident from October Global News. Police stated that a man met Wyatt through a social media website in July 2023, and later alleged he was given an illicit drug and sexually assaulted at a home in the southwest area of the city. Wyatt’s defence lawyer, Evan Roitenberg, said Wyatt is innocent and will contest the charges in court.

Municipal Governance and Charter Limitations

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, council Speaker Devi Sharma, and several other members of city council have also called on Wyatt to step away from his duties. However, current municipal rules limit how officials can respond. According to city guidelines, council can remove a member who has been convicted of a crime, but there is no existing mechanism to forcibly remove a sitting councillor who is only facing charges.

Mayor Gillingham announced plans to ask city council to initiate the process of altering the city charter to provide better tools for responding when elected officials face serious criminal charges or convictions. Proposed temporary measures would allow officials facing charges to be removed from committees or boards, barred from participating in council meetings, or placed on administrative leave.

Premier Kinew noted that while the province should examine whether municipalities need more tools to temporarily remove council members accused of crimes, the timing presents hurdles. It would be tough for us to step in during the election period, if that makes sense, Kinew said, adding that the upcoming municipal election complicates it. Mayor Gillingham indicated that the appropriate time for council to vote on the charter-change motion is after the scheduled October election.

Committee Attendance Amid Public Scrutiny

Despite the mounting pressure and criminal charges, Wyatt appeared at a special meeting of the East Kildonan-Transcona Community Committee at City Hall. He was 50 minutes late to the Thursday morning session, causing a 30-minute delay to proceedings that drew criticism from attending residents.

Winnipeg police announced Tuesday that they have laid three new charges against Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona), including an — Photo: CTV News

While Wyatt was removed from several committees following his initial charges earlier in the year, existing civic bylaws permitted him to remain on the community committee because he must represent his ward. I’m here for a public hearing, Wyatt told reporters upon his arrival, deferring questions regarding the criminal allegations to his legal counsel. Wyatt maintained his innocence, stating, I believe in the rule of law. I believe this is a partisan political attack, and this council chamber is better than that.

Wyatt has not registered to run for re-election in the municipal election. The deadline for candidates to register for the fall campaign is September 22.