A week after asking city council if he could take leave for four months without pay, Yellowknife Coun. Ryan Fequet has withdrawn his request.

"I wanted to reiterate that I asked this because of the time I'll be taking with my family in 2025," he said during a city council meeting on Oct. 22. "Now that council has chimed in with their initial thoughts that this duration of unpaid leave, in this circumstance, is not in the cards, that clarity is much appreciated and helpful." 

After making his request, almost all councillors said no immediately, some of whom suggested Fequet should resign instead. He clarified that he would not step down if he did not get approval for his leave request.

"I and my family continue to be fully invested," he said. 

He also received plenty of feedback elsewhere. Fequet noted that he got responses from more than 120 people, including from Norman Wells, Calgary and Yukon.

He added that his desire to take unpaid time off from his duties as an elected official opens up a broader conversation on when and how the mayor and councillors can request a leave of absence. 

SA国际影视传媒淐larity on maternity and parental leave and compassion and care of sick parents SA国际影视传媒� considering how old some of us are, among other elements SA国际影视传媒� would definitely support the recruitment of a diverse council team that reflects the demographics of the city,SA国际影视传媒� Fequet suggested.

He said he will bring forward a motion about Yellowknife's mayor and council leave policy at a council meeting during November.