Yellowknife City Council has formally censured Coun. Niels Konge for comments he made during Governance and Priorities Committee meetings on Sept. 27 and Nov. 1.

SA国际影视传媒淚 feel that the most appropriate action is a censure, as a censure is a formal public group statement that denounces an individualSA国际影视传媒檚 actions that run counter to the groupSA国际影视传媒檚 acceptable standards for individual behavior,SA国际影视传媒� said Mayor Rebecca Alty on Feb. 28. SA国际影视传媒淚n both cases, Coun. Konge has apologized and recognized that his statements were wrong. The comments, while not intended to be racist, present a casual racism that cannot be tolerated by the City of the Yellowknife.SA国际影视传媒�

On Nov. 1, Konge compared a proposed proof-of-vaccine program with racial segregation policies. On Sept. 27, he drew a parallel between small business problems caused by the pandemic and the Sixties Scoop, when Indigenous children were removed from their homes and sent to live with non-Indigenous foster parents, disconnecting them from their culture.

Through the Cities, Towns and Villages Act, which governs Yellowknife City Council, a councillor breaching the code of ethics can result in a public censure or removal of said council member from a meeting.

SA国际影视传媒淲e donSA国际影视传媒檛 support the comments that were said at the council that evening and hoping to move forward,SA国际影视传媒� said Coun. Robin Williams. SA国际影视传媒淪o just wanted to throw my support behind madam mayorSA国际影视传媒檚 comments and be supportive of that.SA国际影视传媒�

KongeSA国际影视传媒檚 controversial comments were initially brought before the Governance and Priorities Committee on Feb. 14, when the municipal integrity commissionerSA国际影视传媒檚 report was introduced. The commissioner found Konge to be in violation of articles 4.2 and 4.3 of the council code of ethics bylaw.

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Coun. Shauna Morgan also supported the motion.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to keep in mind that this is not about labelling people as racist or anything like that SA国际影视传媒� the idea is just to identify when something inappropriate is done and just say the action is not appropriate,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Coun. Steve Payne was the only one who opposed the reprimand during the evening meeting with a full quorum.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 not an ounce of me that thinks that there was any negative intent on Coun. KongeSA国际影视传媒檚 behalf,SA国际影视传媒� Payne said.

Konge did not speak during the meeting.