Councillor Fletcher Voting While Driving

[GameBoy27]

All I can say, is that if this was Doug Ford caught doing this, they'd be asking for his resignation.

TORONTO -- A city council meeting to debate the now-approved 2021 budget went a bit off course on Thursday after one councillor was spotted behind the wheel of a car during a vote.

In a recording of the nine-hour meeting, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto-Danforth Coun. Paula Fletcher could be seen at one point on video driving as councillors were voting.

"Councillor Fletcher? speaker Frances Nunziata asked. "You're driving and you're voting on your phone."


Another councillor was heard shouting, "You can't vote while you are driving a motor-vehicle. It's not lawful."

Fletcher, clearly annoyed by the comments, shot back, "I'm not holding the phone. You are looking at me. Look, my hands are on the wheel, my eyes are straight ahead."

"It's just inappropriate," Nunziata responded.

An assistant, the Ward 14 councillor said, had been holding up her phone as she drove.

"Ok I can leave the meeting. If Coun. Thompson didn't want every vote recorded, I'd be fine," Fletcher added. "Bye."

The exchange prompted Coun. Shelley Carroll to break out into laughter before Fletcher left the meeting.

Council later approved both the $13.98 billion operating budget and $44.7 billion 10-year capital budget.

"I hate to say this, I love them all and I love the whole place, but it doesn't take much to derail things sometimes," Mayor John Tory said during an interview with CP24 on Friday morning.

"She wasn't breaking any rules. She had somebody in the car that was holding the phone who was masked. She was not driving and texting or anything like that because someone else was holding the phone. And there is no rule against somebody being in a car to vote."

Tory said ultimately he decided to request that councillors move past it and continue on with the meeting.

"I just finally intervened after this back-and-forth was going on for some time and said, 'Look there are no rules being broken here, can we just move on,'" the mayor said.

"People love to debate and discuss these things, and it can be amusing but it can also be a waste of time."



https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/it-s-jus...o-driving-during-city-s-budget-vote-1.5315636

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/it-s-jus...o-driving-during-city-s-budget-vote-1.5315636

 

[Don Draper]

Obviously she did nothing legally wrong but in regards to political optics, it's the wrong move.

The smart move would be to distance yourself, as far as possible, from any situation that would bring you criticism.

If her assistant could hold a phone then the assistant should be the one driving.

 

[GameBoy27]

Obviously she did nothing legally wrong but in regards to political optics, it's the wrong move.

The smart move would be to distance yourself, as far as possible, from any situation that would bring you criticism.

If her assistant could hold a phone then the assistant should be the one driving.

Or pull over and stop while you vote. What's so hard about that? Not to mention the incorrect hand position on the steering wheel. 9 & 3 is where they should be.

 

[underground]

She is being paid very well. She should be in her home office during work hours.

 

[Indiana]

Nice to know that Tory loves them all.

 

[I'm Me]

She is being paid very well. She should be in her home office during work hours.

That's the other thing I thought after looking at the video. How is this not time theft? All the others are at home in their covid work space during the meeting and she's out driving somewhere presumably doing personal business.
I also notice she's not going wherever she is using public transit. Is that a green vehicle Paula? Hmmm.

On the homepage of her website,
I'm committed to working with you to make Toronto-Danforth a safe, green, and thriving community.

- Paula

 

[GameBoy27]

In 1981, Fletcher was elected leader of the Communist Party of Canada (Manitoba) and served as leader for five years.

She's a piece of work. I have no idea why people keep re-electing her.

 

[jcpro]

In 1981, Fletcher was elected leader of the Communist Party of Canada (Manitoba) and served as leader for five years.

She's a piece of work. I have no idea why people keep re-electing her.

Because most of the voters are ignorant morons when it comes to politics, history and most information beyond what fits on the campaign button. They would never vote for a Nazi, but a communist? No problem.