JenniferRice
A motion by Ward tastawiyiniwak Councillor Karen Principe to have candidates pay for criminal record checks conducted by the Edmonton Police Service was voted down 11-2 with Councillor Jennifer Rice being the other support vote. Principe thought the checks would provide public peace of mind and didn’t anticipate the backlash her motion received. Candidates for Provincial MLAs and/or Federal MPs aren't required to automatically hand over such information.
Councillors Aaron Paquette and Erin Rutherford voiced their concerns with the motion and Mayor Sohi said political parties backing candidates in future elections will probably be vetting those candidates.
Criminal checks have become common for many positions so its understandable why the motion was brought forward.
This story is very disturbing and makes me question for how many more things does the end justify the means and are done in secret? I think Edmonton voters should be concerned that only Councillors Sarah Hamilton, Tim Cartmell, Jennifer Rice and Karen Principe opposed the secret deal. What does this say about the integrity of the other Councillors?
The Councillors are like the Board of Directors of a corporation and if they tried to pull of some secret deal they would all be dismissed immediately. Dismaissal is probably out but I think some more than a slap on the wrist should happen now and that this should be front & centre in the next election.