A special #ottcity council meeting begins. It stands to be high-drama, with Diane Deans possibly being taken off the police services board. #ottnews
https://twitter.com/jchianello/status/1494048911622873094
Immediately, Coun. Menard asks for a "more neutral" chair for the meeting than Mayor Jim Watson.
He asks deputy mayor Dudas to chair instead, but loses.
(My vote count and the deputy clerk's tally don't quite work out but here's what I heard). #ottcity #ottnews
He asks deputy mayor Dudas to chair instead, but loses.
(My vote count and the deputy clerk's tally don't quite work out but here's what I heard). #ottcity #ottnews
Mayor Watson begins with some opening remarks about the developments from Ford's state of emergency, to the federal Emergencies Act, to the city being granted its own injunction.
Watson says Ottawa Police have 190 criminal investigations underway, including 15 that are hate-related.
He says officers have arrested 33 people, and 18 were charged.
Since Jan. 28, bylaw has handed out 2,900+ tickets in the red zone. #ottcity #ottnews
He says officers have arrested 33 people, and 18 were charged.
Since Jan. 28, bylaw has handed out 2,900+ tickets in the red zone. #ottcity #ottnews
Watson has this message for protesters:
"The window of opportunity for you to leave our city is closing."
If you leave now, the probability of leaving with your property is high, he adds. #ottcity #ottnews
"The window of opportunity for you to leave our city is closing."
If you leave now, the probability of leaving with your property is high, he adds. #ottcity #ottnews
We're going to take back the entirety of the downtown core, says interim chief Steve Bell.
"Demonstrators must leave the unlawful protest sites", officers are going truck to truck to tell them of the demand, he says.
#ottcity
"Demonstrators must leave the unlawful protest sites", officers are going truck to truck to tell them of the demand, he says.
#ottcity
"It will take time to do this right," says Bell.
"Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not ones we are used to seeing in Ottawa." #ottnews #ottcity
"Some of the techniques we are lawfully able and prepared to use are not ones we are used to seeing in Ottawa." #ottnews #ottcity
Leiper: Why should residents believe police this time?
Bell: We now have the plan, the resources and the commitment. Our desire will always be to negotiate, but we do have the ability to remove them, and now can do that. He doesn't expand on what those "techniques" are.
Bell: We now have the plan, the resources and the commitment. Our desire will always be to negotiate, but we do have the ability to remove them, and now can do that. He doesn't expand on what those "techniques" are.
This is a first: Coun. McKenney joins the virtual #OttCity council meeting while doing walking around their Somerset ward and the heart of the protests as people tell the councillor: "We're not leaving."
"We cannot have another dangerous weekend," McKenney tells Bell. #OttNews
"We cannot have another dangerous weekend," McKenney tells Bell. #OttNews
Bell says he can't speak to the specifics to plan that will roll out over coming days.
McKenney will have more Q's for #ottcity staff: We are tired, we are fed up. It is not okay. And now we're playing political games here today. And I've had it. #ottnews
McKenney will have more Q's for #ottcity staff: We are tired, we are fed up. It is not okay. And now we're playing political games here today. And I've had it. #ottnews
BREAKING: A mega motion right here - by Scott Moffatt and Laura Dudas - calling for a major overhaul of the makeup of the police services board.
Deans out, Meehan out, Smallwood had resigned.
Menard: he hadn't seen it, could Watson Club send it along?!
#ottnews #ottcity
Deans out, Meehan out, Smallwood had resigned.
Menard: he hadn't seen it, could Watson Club send it along?!
#ottnews #ottcity
Here's the motion in full. It would see El-Chantiry and Harder replace Deans and Meehan, and vote for a new chair and vice-chair tomorrow. #ottcity #ottnews
Sandy Smallwood had resigned today, motion suggests Suzanne Valiquet replace him.
Sandy Smallwood had resigned today, motion suggests Suzanne Valiquet replace him.
BREAKING:
Coun. Rawlson King resigns from police services board over the Mayor's vision.
King says Deans worked for structural reform of police, was committed to listening despite difficult conversations.
During the crisis, "we asked the toughest questions." #ottcity #ottnews
Coun. Rawlson King resigns from police services board over the Mayor's vision.
King says Deans worked for structural reform of police, was committed to listening despite difficult conversations.
During the crisis, "we asked the toughest questions." #ottcity #ottnews
Motion by Moffatt/Dudas had a role for King in an overhauled police board, as council liaison for anti-racism.
Menard tells Mayor Watson that King resigned over "your actions and your club's actions". "You're blowing up the police board" to insert your own people, Menard argues.
Menard tells Mayor Watson that King resigned over "your actions and your club's actions". "You're blowing up the police board" to insert your own people, Menard argues.
On hiring a new interim chief for the Ottawa Police, Deans tells Menard the police services board is responsible for hiring the senior command in Ottawa. We have the only authority, she says. #OttCity council has no authority, Deans says.
Deans: I hadn't yet made public new interim chief, or told Bell.
cbc.ca/1.6354150
"I think it's horrific and unbecoming of this council to pull this stunt today. But we've been on this council long enough to know how this council functions under Mayor Watson's direction."
cbc.ca/1.6354150
"I think it's horrific and unbecoming of this council to pull this stunt today. But we've been on this council long enough to know how this council functions under Mayor Watson's direction."
McKenney: "I guess the word of the evening, and the last few days, is scapegoat." What we've scapegoated is the first Black police chief, the second woman to chair police services board. And all mayor could say to King's resignation is thank you, and move on? #ottcity #ottnews
McKenney: "What's happening right now, this motion we're debating tonight, is political. A power grab by this mayor."
If it wasn't, why appointing a rural and suburban councillor, not a downtown one? McKenney demands.
BG from 2018: cbc.ca/news/canada/ot… #ottcity #ottnews
If it wasn't, why appointing a rural and suburban councillor, not a downtown one? McKenney demands.
BG from 2018: cbc.ca/news/canada/ot… #ottcity #ottnews
Again, YouTube link here.
This meeting is so hard to explain. Far worse and more tense and divisive than the cut-Deans-mic moment of a few months ago.
This meeting is so hard to explain. Far worse and more tense and divisive than the cut-Deans-mic moment of a few months ago.
McKenney: we're having this meeting on a Wednesday night, first planned for Monday, in a crisis.
"You don't actually care, or we wouldn't be having this conversation right now," McKenney says.
"Mayor Watson, I have lost all confidence in you as a mayor of #OttCity."
"You don't actually care, or we wouldn't be having this conversation right now," McKenney says.
"Mayor Watson, I have lost all confidence in you as a mayor of #OttCity."
Meehan says the board followed the Act in all its decisions.
Meehan accuses Mayor Watson of using the Police Services Act to remove Deans and herself... "because you want more control over the decisions that are made and you want to punish us -- it's despicable." #ottcity
Meehan accuses Mayor Watson of using the Police Services Act to remove Deans and herself... "because you want more control over the decisions that are made and you want to punish us -- it's despicable." #ottcity
Brockington asks Moffatt if he'll withdraw his motion. Moffatt says he won't.
Dudas: We've heard from public they've lost trust, seen our chief resign (and he was lauded when he came in), then within hours, we're learning about an offer and acceptance of a new chief with no heads up. She says that would affect morale of officers. #ottcity
Dudas will definitely support Moffat's motion. Says she can't understand how a new chief is signed, sealed delivered. It doesn't give Dudas confidence that decisions aren't being made in a frantic way or done on the fly. #ottcity
Leiper points to this part of the motion, says he doesn't think board's been ineffective. He "has no doubt" motion came from the mayor's office.
"Mayor, if your motion is going to pick out the police services board for particular failings, I would ask you to look in the mirror."
"Mayor, if your motion is going to pick out the police services board for particular failings, I would ask you to look in the mirror."
"This is theatre, and this is politics and it's not what I signed up for," says Leiper, who wants to get to the rest of the meeting, and talking about dealing with protests.
Leiper also asks Moffatt to withdraw. He won't, tells Leiper to call the vote. Leiper doesn't.
Leiper also asks Moffatt to withdraw. He won't, tells Leiper to call the vote. Leiper doesn't.
Cloutier suggests adding Cathy Curry, whom council appointed rather than calling a byelection last fall, to Rawlson King's spot on board.
McKenney interjects, asks if it's beyond #OttCity council to add an urban councillor.
Inside the Greenbelt, they say, "I'll send you a map!"
McKenney interjects, asks if it's beyond #OttCity council to add an urban councillor.
Inside the Greenbelt, they say, "I'll send you a map!"
Curry willing to have an urban councillor named instead.
Leiper says he was interested at beginning of the term. Moffatt happy to put Leiper's name on it instead.
#ottcity
Leiper says he was interested at beginning of the term. Moffatt happy to put Leiper's name on it instead.
#ottcity
Fleury thanks Sloly, who was to be a change agent on the force.
Fleury gets choked up talking about King's resignation and the work he's done on the board. "The face of Ottawa has changed. And Ottawa has not changed".
He asks King to reconsider. "We have a lot of things to heal."
Fleury gets choked up talking about King's resignation and the work he's done on the board. "The face of Ottawa has changed. And Ottawa has not changed".
He asks King to reconsider. "We have a lot of things to heal."
DEANS: I know you're all so offended we didn't give you more info about hiring, but you don't have a role to play. You don't.
The senior command is "flying with one wing", she says. Bell there, but Sloly gone, another deputy chief off facing sexual harassment claims.
The senior command is "flying with one wing", she says. Bell there, but Sloly gone, another deputy chief off facing sexual harassment claims.
Deans: "The senior command needs the help, and that's why the board unanimously made a decision to get them more help that they needed."
Matt Torigian has an impeccable record - would help bolster police, Deans says. We're in a crisis, we needed to act quickly! #ottcity
Matt Torigian has an impeccable record - would help bolster police, Deans says. We're in a crisis, we needed to act quickly! #ottcity
DEANS: "You're destabilizing the oversight body for Ottawa Police in the middle of the biggest crisis in this city's history."
"That is being ridiculously political." You're doing it to try and deflect away from mayor's "horrendous decision" to negotiate w/ protesters, says Deans
"That is being ridiculously political." You're doing it to try and deflect away from mayor's "horrendous decision" to negotiate w/ protesters, says Deans
Kitts also wants King to reconsider his resignation. She's been concerned by how little info she's getting from the police board, and getting more from social media.
Jan Harder: she'll bring her prior police board experience.
"This stupidity by the board has destabilized this place, more than Sloly resigning. It was absolutely irresponsible to hire some random guy who hasn't policed in eight years. In eight years. Without any consultation"
"This stupidity by the board has destabilized this place, more than Sloly resigning. It was absolutely irresponsible to hire some random guy who hasn't policed in eight years. In eight years. Without any consultation"
NEW: #OttCity council votes 15-9 to remove Diane Deans as chair of police services board, replace her with former chair Eli El-Chantiry. #ottnews
Before the vote, Deans had said: "You know what makes me the saddest of all? You're unseating a progressive board that was bringing about important and progressive change in policing in #OttCity. And you're going back to the 1950s... and old-school law and order." #ottcity
Vote taken too on removing Carol Anne Meehan from police services board, in favour of Jan Harder. It fails.
#ottcity #ottnews
#ottcity #ottnews
Jeff Leiper to take Rawlson King's seat, who resigned this evening in support of Deans and because he didn't agree with the mayor's vision.
Suzanne Valiquet will replace vice-chair Sandy Smallwood, who also resigned from the board today.
Suzanne Valiquet will replace vice-chair Sandy Smallwood, who also resigned from the board today.
Theresa Kavanagh motion condemning protesters near schools approved. #ottcity
McKenney motion for a formarl apology to #OttCity residents approved by council.
George Darouze dissents.
George Darouze dissents.
Motion approved by downtown councillors McKenney and Fleury for free transit to affected riders in some areas. #ottcity
This one approved too, aimed at a public service campaign about racism and other discrimination. Dissent by Chiarelli.
King wants no travel tax credits for those who've travelled to Ottawa for the protests and brought "chaos". Approved. Chiarelli dissents.
A Menard/McKenney motion approved -- about using a "full array of tools" to end protests. Dudas sees it as a reminder to staff that they're supported, even if it doesn't give more powers. Dissent by Darouze and Chiarelli.
Carol Anne Meehan also resigned from the police services board. So that's four members in one day: Smallwood, Meehan, King, while Deans was voted out.
To close this thread, here’s the 11 pm media availability here with mayor Jim Watson. He’d actually said quite little during the meeting itself.
He disagreed the motion to overhaul the police board was a political stunt. #ottcity
He disagreed the motion to overhaul the police board was a political stunt. #ottcity
And, Joanne’s and my story from last night (or I suppose, it was early this morning) here: cbc.ca/news/canada/ot…
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