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the biggest stories in the Southeast over the past year. The upheaval that began in the spring, when then Mayor Jackie Hunt and council lors Jeannot Robert and Ron Mamchuk resigned from their seats, sparked the July 19 byelection and a remade council with several new faces. The turmoil has not been without positive results. The Association of Manitoba Municipalities took the issue of bullying and harassment seriously at its recent convention, committing to more discussion and changes to ensure that municipal council tables are free of the abuse and bullying that was said to have occurred in Ritchot. In a larger sense, municipal politics has taken a step forward as the issue of harassment is ad dressed. However, the crop of new faces in Ritchot have not necessarily put the municipality on much firmer footing in other ways. The first signs of trouble occurred months ago, as council blazed through its financial plan process with little thought or consideration. Though the new council was expected to hit the ground running, its hastiness in the budget process was a first indication that the council was struggling to take control and shape its own vision for the municipality. This is not a council that has the luxury of time in Te beleaguered RM of Ritchet was one of making a good first impression. General elections now loom in October and this past week Mayor Chris Ewen has once again shown a flat- footedness when it comes to municipal matters. The Carillon pointed out last week that the mayor flubbed his election finance statements when he neglected to list all his donations. Ewen has since said he will refile but it adds to a growing impression of this mayor as a municipal leader who is far more focussed on the big picture than fretting about the details, even if those details could get him kicked out of office. Ewen seems to be a bright, energetic leader but also seems to have done little homework to prep himself for what’s required in municipal leader ship and what rules must be followed. It’s a recipe for more problems and potentially further scrutiny from the province. While past problems on Ritchot council seemed driven by ill-intent, today problems seem generated by the ill-informed. Despite its rocky personal disputes, Ritchet seemed to be a solid functioning municipality in the past, but this new disorder that is emerging on council is unhealthy too. Hopefully this council finds its footing soon or voters may not be inter ested in giving them a second chance in the fall. G.B.
Newspaper Details
Steinbach Carillon
Steinbach, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Dec 28, 2017
Page 6
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Nathan J.
CA 09 Sep 2026
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