New West residents are sounding off after a council meeting went a bit off the rails just over four hours into it.
The source of the meeting’s derailment was a confrontation between councillor Daniel Fontaine and New West Mayor Patrick Johnstone. Councillor Paul Minhas also got involved at one point.
Fontaine has issued a public apology for his part in the municipal shenanigans, and we’ve reached out to Johnstone’s office for comment.
So, what happened?
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Before the blow-up, the council was discussing an amendment to a motion regarding funding for community program grants.
Fontaine took the mic after some words from councillor Ruby Campbell, commenting on how people in the community have been asking for changes for a long time.
“It took the initiative to have this amendment now brought forward. And I’m glad it’s not coming forward from myself or from councillor Minhas. I have a feeling because it’s coming from the mayor, it likely will get voted in,” Fontaine said.
After expressing further support for the funding increase, Fontaine comments on the timing of this happening in an election year, “coincidentally,” before he’s interrupted by Johnstone.
“Sorry, sorry, I’m hearing a point of order,” the mayor says, deferring to councillor Nadine Nakagawa.
“I think that this is inappropriate where this is going,” Nakagawa says. Nakagawa then speaks inaudibly with her mic turned off.
After that, Fontaine can also be heard speaking off-mic, leading Johnstone to repeatedly tell him that he’s “out of order.”
The mayor continues, “Are you going to maintain order? Councillor, I’m required to maintain order, if you won’t maintain order!”
While this happens, the camera pans back and forth between Fontaine and Johnstone, with both visibly frustrated. Then, councillor Minhas jumps in, accusing Fontaine of making threats.
“Councillor Minhas, you’re not in order. No one has threatened anyone, councillor Minhas, and you are not in order,” Johnstone says.
Following this brief verbal spat, Johnstone recommends a five-minute recess so “people can gather themselves a little bit and learn the rules of order.”
You can still hear people shouting off-mic as Johnstone makes the recommendation. Johnstone then stands up, preparing for the recess, when he tells Fontaine that he isn’t “entitled to yell.”
As the mayor speaks, Minhas leaves the council chambers, followed by Fontaine. When the council reconvened, both Minhas and Fontaine were visibly absent, and council no longer had a quorum, so the meeting was adjourned.
You can watch the video online; the drama begins around the 4:15 mark.
An apology and community reaction
Fontaine looking over at Johnstone. (City of New Westminster)
We reached out to Fontaine, who referred us to his Facebook apology.
On Facebook, Fontaine wrote that he sent a letter to his council colleagues and senior staff.
“I also feel it is important to share it with the residents of New Westminster — as I’m ultimately accountable to them for my actions in the chamber.”
Fontaine apologized for speaking out of turn “in a moment of deep frustration.”
“This outburst was not in keeping with the standards of decorum and professionalism that I hold myself to, and I regret both the words I used and the disruption they caused.”
Fontaine said he takes full responsibility for his conduct; however, he referred to a comment that Johnstone made on his blog, in which he outed Fontaine and Minhas for “hijacking” the process and asking questions during public delegations.
“The mayor should play a vital role in creating space for all members to be heard, including those who may disagree with the majority,” he added.
The response to his apology was mixed, with one person commenting, “Apology accepted,” and another saying, “Be better.”
On the New West subreddit, someone referred to Fontaine’s conduct as a “wild temper tantrum.”
Some gave props to Johnstone for “keeping his cool.”
We’ll update this story once we hear back from the mayor’s office.
If you watched the video and the interaction, what do you make of what transpired?