Mexican Beach (photo/Vernon Matters)

By Kevin Rothwell

Where were you?

Media vacation inquiry rankles councillor

Jan 12, 2021 | 6:45 AM

A media request to Vernon City Hall has drawn the ire of council members.

Politicians travelling abroad over the Christmas vacation, when everyone else was being told to stay home has resulted in firings, resignations and general condemnation from the public.

A local media outlet had asked the city’s communication officer to canvas city council to see what members did over the holidays.

“I have a concern that we were required to comment on whether or not we had left the country. I felt that it was inappropriate for someone to ask the city to canvas council to verify that we had been adhering to the provincial health guidelines.” Coun. Brian Quiring said.

How that question was asked of Vernon councillors is what upset members of council.

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“I would say in the future those media outlets that are interested in seeing what we have been up to in our spare time to contact us directly,” Quiring added. “I think it puts Christy (Christy Poirier) in an awkward position and I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Quiring notes he is a businessman and work travel is sometimes bound by confidentiality agreements.

“I think this was inappropriate. There is no PHO that says we can’t travel. This is linked to some senior level politicians going on vacation. It has nothing to do with us,” Coun. Scott Anderson said.

For the record, no members of council took an out of town or out of country vacation.