WESTERN PRODUCER — A representative for the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan has resigned after posting comments on Twitter about the truck convoy that some found offensive.
Danny Ottenbreit, who represented the Rural Municipality of Grayson, posted on Jan. 25: “You know who else likes to parade around with trucks and flags? The Taliban and ISIS.”
In an interview after he resigned, Ottenbreit said he was alarmed by the increasing rhetoric he saw on the platform, the involvement of alt-right movement leaders and the Memorandum of Understanding issued by organizers of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate protest in Ottawa that pledged to overthrow the government.
He agreed his comments put APAS in a bad light and that they were unacceptable, but he also noted that some of the people who complained about the post have signed codes of conduct as rural municipal council members yet also posted comments that could be deemed offensive.
He suggested his resignation, which was done on his own accord, could be a catalyst for organizations to discuss social media codes and general codes of conduct if they don’t already have them.
“It’s a public medium,” he said. “You can delete, but the internet does not delete.”
APAS president Ian Boxall said the organization’s board has a code of conduct but representatives do not. However, that topic is on the agenda for the February board meeting.Boxall is the reeve of his RM and said he had to sign a code of conduct in that capacity, but he was unaware if other councils had to do the same.
Ottenbreit said he knows many people didn’t like his comments on Twitter and agriculture in general because they differ from most. He said he will use his time away from the organization and social media to “be better.”
His resignation tweet drew many comments of praise, but also some less flattering.
Boxall said Ottenbreit did offer a different perspective on many issues, and that isn’t a bad thing.
“He was a good voice at the table, and if people think APAS is better off without that voice they’re wrong,” he said.
He encouraged people using the social media platform to respect other opinions and refrain from personal attacks when they disagree.
“Ag twitter in some regard is great, the sharing of information and such, but the attacks are ridiculous,” he said.
Others on Twitter last weekend also noted that the back-and-forth had become full of personal attacks and it might be time for some to take a break. Ottenbreit has not deleted his account but said he would “go dark” for a while.
