Mayor Bowman to ask EPC to extend Deepak Joshi suspension

On Wednesday morning, Mayor Brian Bowman will ask the executive policy committee (EPC) to extend the City of Winnipeg's acting chief administrative officer (CAO) Deepak Joshi's suspension.

• Deepak Joshi suspended as City of Winnipeg's acting CAO

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference Bowman confirmed he will make a case to the EPC that would see Joshi's current three-day suspension, which ends at noon Wednesday, extended for another 30 days.

"I'm letting you know in advance, that I'll be making a motion that EPC extend [the suspension] for up to 30 days," Bowman told reporters. "I'll have more to say in due course."

Bowman said the decision to extend the suspension will ultimately be up to the EPC, adding that part of the meeting will go in camera due to the sensitive nature of the issue.

"Of course, given that it’s an HR matter, we’ll be required to go in camera for that portion. But I can let you know in advance that’s what I’ll be bringing forward to EPC tomorrow,” said Bowman.

The mayor said he would provide more details about Joshi's suspension following the results of Wednesday's meeting.

Bowman suspended Joshi late last week saying he had "lost confidence" in the acing CAO's capacity to serve in that role. He said that has not changed.

Joshi, who was previously the city's chief operating officer, was appointed acting CAO following the departure of Phil Sheegl in October 2013.