REGINA — A complaint has been filed with the City of Regina’s ethics commissioner to investigate the conduct of Ward 7 Councillor Terina Shaw.
A “group of concerned Regina citizens,” according to their news release July 18, has written a letter signed by 47 people to Regina’s Integrity Commissioner Angela Kruk to investigate Shaw’s conduct at two meetings.
The first was the Jan. 26 meeting of Executive Committee, with the group referencing comments by Shaw implying Indigenous men are sexual predators. The second was the June 15 meeting of City Council, with the group referencing comments from Shaw about Indigenous people choosing to be homeless.
Shaw's comments from the June 15 meeting had also drawn condemnation from groups such as the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services Inc., as well as an apology from Mayor Sandra Masters at a subsequent council meeting.
The news release stated the comments violated the code of ethics bylaw provisions to treat every person with dignity, understanding and respect, and the provision that members shall not engage in discrimination, bullying, harassment or use derogatory language. The group of citizens have demanded Shaw be removed from council.
In a media scrum at City Hall Tuesday, Interim City Clerk Amber Ackerman would not confirm that a complaint had been filed specifically against Shaw. But she did confirm “a formal request for investigation was received July 15 by the office of the city clerk and was provided to the integrity commissioner to investigate.”
She told reporters “any formal complaints filed with the integrity commissioner are kept confidential while the investigation is being conducted. The integrity commissioner is required to report to the complainant and the member of council of which the complaint was filed against no longer than 90 days after the receipt of the request for an investigation of the complaint. “
Council shall consider that report within 90 days after the report is brought to Executive Committee in camera.
Ackerman also told reporters possible sanctions may include a reprimand, requiring the member apologize to those impacted, removing the member from committees or other bodies, or dismissing the member from a position of chairperson of a council committee. Ackerman said council is not permitted under the statute that governs them to remove a member of council from office.
