South Bruce Peninsula is holding a special council meeting tomorrow as the town’s mayor faces backlash for comments he made about a neighbouring Indigenous community.
Council will meet in closed session, but an agenda published on South Bruce Peninsula’s website shows Coun. Caleb Hull will be seeking support on a motion to have council “request” that Mayor Garry Michi resign.
Councillors will also vote on a motion to file a complaint to the town’s Integrity Commissioner.
“My two motions reflect how our community is feeling right now. A stance from council must be taken as it is one small step toward addressing the hurt that was caused by the released audio recording,” Hull says in an email. “I hope the mayor takes Wednesday’s meeting as an opportunity to address council and the public.”
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The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation has publicly called for Michi’s resignation, after an audio clip of him making comments about the First Nation began circulating online recently.
It’s not clear who Michi is talking to in the clip or when it was recorded. It’s about 45 seconds long.
This is what Michi says in it: “Twenty, 25 years ago they put a water treatment plant up at Cape Croker. It got ruined because they didn’t maintain it. Now we’ve spent $65-million up there to put hydrants and a new water treatment plant. And 75 per cent of those houses, I mean they should be torn down,” says Michi in the audio clip. “It’s like why are we spending $65-million on a water treatment plant up there that is going to last 20 years because they are not going to look after it. Right? Just look at their home. I can understand to be poor, but you can be poor and clean.”
Michi hasn’t responded to requests from Bayshore Broadcasting News for an interview.
South Bruce Peninsula council’s special meeting is scheduled at 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.