Advertisement

Winnipeg city council rejects mayor’s motion, votes to keep severance pay

WINNIPEG:  City councillors will get to keep their severance packages. Council voted 10-6 against a motion to eliminate the payouts.

Mayor Brian Bowman promised during the election to try to end severance payments for outgoing politicians, but Wednesday only had the support councillors Scott Gillingham, Janice Lukes, Marty Morantz, John Orlikow and Russ Wyatt.

A motion to reduce top-ups to those who sit on committees as well as ward expenditures, such as cable, did pass.

The vote followed a heated debate.

Bowman has said the money politicians receive when they quit city-hall, or lose in an election, amounts to a political payout.

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie called the use of that term “disgusting.”

“It makes me sound sleazy because I’m going to vote against getting rid of the severance,” said Eadie.  “And I’m really angered by that.”
Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said its not fair to those who make a four-year commitment to step away from their other life.  Gerbasi was a nurse before she ran for office and says if she were to return to that job now, she would have to go back to school.

“For me to say, ‘okay, that’s it, I don’t have an income the next day’, sorry, I don’t think that’s reasonable or fair.”

Story continues below advertisement

 

Sponsored content

AdChoices