Edmonton public hearing to resume next week, after heated city council exchange

Edmonton city council reluctantly voted to continue a public hearing next week — their vacation period — after Friday evening's debate led to swears being thrown.

The marathon meetings have stretched all week, as council reviews its zoning bylaw one year after a major overhaul.

On Friday, councillors spoke about work-life balance, with some saying they would be on vacation without internet next week. Then, a heated exchange occurred, after Ward Sspomitapi Coun. Jo-Anne Wright commented about how experienced councillors might have expected the meeting eating into their vacation time.

"From what I understand… this is a normal course of business with things ramping up, and I would think that maybe the incumbents would be aware of that," Wright said.

Ward sipiwiyiniwak Coun. Sarah Hamilton, who said she'd be away and unable to attend the meeting, swore in her response.

"That was so f--king rude. F--k you, Jo-Anne Wright. F--k you," she said.

"This is absolutely unacceptable," Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said immediately afterward.

Sohi, who chairs council meetings, asked both councillors to withdraw their comments. Both obliged, and Hamilton apologized for using unparliamentary language.

If the public hearing did not go ahead next week, council would have to return in the middle of August. One of the major debates is about amending the zoning bylaw to reduce the number of allowable units in mid-block row houses from eight to six.

Sohi said Friday that the hundreds of Edmontonians who have spoken about zoning deserve some closure on the issue, and encouraged councillors to vote to continue next week. 

"This is not an ideal situation, but this is the situation that we are in," he said. 

"Whichever decision we make, we need to make that decision as soon as possible," he said. "If we go from eight to six units, there will be consequences if we delay that decision by another month-and-a-half."

Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford said moving the meeting to council's scheduled vacation period puts councillors in a "terrible position."

"Quite frankly, we are all burnt out," Rutherford said.

"This is one of the most important topics that Edmontonians expect us to have, and the councillors that do not attend will be questioned as to why they are not prioritizing this," she said.

The motion to continue on July 8 carried 9-4. Councillors Hamilton, Tim Cartmell, Karen Principe and Jennifer Rice opposed.