Coun. Ryan Fequet has asked for four months of unpaid leave from city council. However, it's unclear if he will also be taking leave from the various other professional positions he holds.
"Last year was a pretty challenging one for my family, particularly my kiddos and my wife," Fequet told his fellow concillors on Tuesday. "We're going to step back from some of our commitments."
It's not clear if those commitments might include his job as executive director for the Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board. Fequet is also listed as being on the board of directors for the Tlicho Investment Corporation. According to a news release on July 8 from the Tlicho Investment Corporation, announcing a new board of directors,
Fequet also has his own personal consulting company, called Lead Dog Consulting. No one on city council asked Fequet if he'd be taking time off those jobs too.
SA国际影视传媒 reached out to all three of these organizations, including each executive director for all land and water boards, asking whether Fequet is taking time off there too. It did not get an answer in time for publication. Fequet was also approached directly for comment but he did not respond to NNSL questions at press time about his request for leave from council.
Fequet is asking to leave between the months of January to April for the new year, he said. Meaning, he'd be back May 2025.
There's no real precedent or policy to deal with this predicament, which Fequet noted, "I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know objectively even what the right answer to the question is."
Fequet left the council room for the rest of the members to discuss. Some of them weren't so on board with this idea.
"Four months, is not in my opinion, within reason," said deputy mayor Garett Cochrane. "We in public office are held to a higher standard and scrutiny than most, and rightfully so."
Cochrane said he has immense respect for Fequet, but ultimately would not support this time off or set it as a precedent.
"I believe the time requested, even as unpaid, is unreasonable. Therefore I believe he should resign form this body," said Cochrane.
Coun. Rob Warburton said resigning is something Fequet should consider, if he can't so much as attend three meetings remotely. "I can't support leave for that much time."
Coun. Stacie Arden Smith sided with Warburton and Cochrane. She noted how her house burned down in 2021 but she never took a break. SA国际影视传媒淚 am not in favour of allowing the leave and I would strongly suggest a resignation," she said.
Coun. Steve Payne said it's an uncomfortable decision but would not support the leave of absence.
Coun. Ben Hendriksen said he was also in agreement with the majority of councillors, meaning almost all of them have already decided they do not support this leave of absence. However Couns. Tom McLennan and Cat McGurk are looking for more time before coming up with their final answer.
Mayor Rebecca Alty said she would not be in support of granting permission to be absent, considering they don't have a clear policy on how this would work.
Council has two weeks to think about their response or come up with an amendment. And if someone from the public has something to say, they can come to city hall to share their thoughts on Oct. 28.
