Official Statement from Councillor Kevin Klein serving Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood
Many residents have contacted my office to share their frustration, anger, and disappointment regarding the City of Winnipeg Health facilities being open to staff during COVID restrictions. I understand and fully respect their frustration, anger, and disappointment.
To be clear, I do not have a membership to the City of Winnipeg Health facilities and was not aware the gym located next to City Hall was open. Unfortunately, I am not surprised by this blatant disregard of taxpayers.
This action is another example of a much larger issue we have in the City of Winnipeg. It’s one of many instances where the lack of leadership and experience on City Council allows the Public Service to go unchecked. I have noticed many of my colleagues share their outrage regarding the gym being open on social media. That response doesn’t address the larger problem. A problem that fosters this type of behaviour because it there is no accountability. In the private sector, “do as I say, not as I do” was not an option for managers on my team or myself.
I believe councillors should direct that energy to our problems' root cause and introduce accountability policies and eliminate the Big Mayor Model that fosters this behaviour. These steps are necessary to begin the process of changing the internal culture within City Hall.
I would urge residents that are upset by this to speak out on the current governance review. The administration is attempting to pass through policy changes that do not include more accountability, that gives more control to the Public Service, that doesn’t have an honest representation of transparency. This strategy is meant to deceive residents and control the outcome that only benefits a few and not the many.
Respectfully,
Councillor Kevin Klein
Proudly serving Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood