Mayor Linnsie Clark filed for a judicial review in an attempt to reverse the sanctions placed on her by council earlier this year. File Photo/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

LIST

The list of sanctions lifted from Mayor Clark by judicial review judge

Aug 26, 2024 | 7:08 PM

A Calgary judge on Monday struck down most of the sanctions placed on Mayor Linnsie Clark by Medicine Hat city council earlier this year.

READ: Mayor’s salary restored as most sanctions reversed in judge’s ruling

Here’s a breakdown of each of the six sanctions:

1. Apology ✅

The sanction:

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Publication of a letter of reprimand and request for apology, in the form read out by the acting mayor on behalf of council.

The ruling:

Justice Nation kept it brief: “Sanction 1 is upheld as it is reasonable.”

—

2. Suspension of chair duties ❌

The sanction:

Suspension of Mayor Clark’s presiding duties under section 154 of the Municipal Government Act.

The ruling:

This sanction was struck by Justice Nation, who found this and others “disproportionate and unreasonable”.

—

3. Spokesperson for council ❌

The sanction:

Clark will no longer be the official spokesperson for Council

The ruling:

This sanction was struck by Justice Nation, who found this and others “disproportionate and unreasonable”.

—

4. Administrative areas ❗

The sanction:

Mayor Clark is prohibited from entering the administration area of City Hall, and outside of council meetings will not have any direct contact with city staff other than the city manager, which will be on the following basis:

A) Mayor Clark may only communicate with the city manager via email that must be copied to all of Council; and

B) If the city manager agrees to meet with Mayor Clark in-person, such a meeting must be in the presence of another member of Council.

The ruling:

Justice Nation found “a total prohibition of Clark entering into the administration area of city hall, or having any direct contact with city staff other than the city manager is disproportionate” and “unreasonably restricts” Clark who, as part of her mayor duties, needs to carry out city business.

Nation decided to send this sanction back to council “to reconsider the appropriate restriction that reasonably protects the city manager but does not restrict Clark from performing her duties as mayor.”

—

5. Administration meetings ❌

The sanction:

Mayor Clark will no longer attend meetings of the Administration Committee.

The ruling:

This sanction was struck by Justice Nation, who found this and others “disproportionate and unreasonable”.

—

6. Salary cut ❌

The sanction:

Corresponding to the foregoing reductions in Mayor Clark’s duties, her salary will be reduced by 50 per cent effective from the date of this motion.

The ruling:

This sanction was struck by Justice Nation, who found this and others “disproportionate and unreasonable”.