Quesnel city council read into the record Tuesday (July 30) that a motion was moved, seconded and resolved at a closed council meeting on June 25 to continue Mayor Ron Paull's censure and sanctions until after the court case Paull brought against the city ends.
A second part of the resolution states that once the court case ends council will give Paull two weeks notice of a review of the censure and sanctions to allow him an opportunity to prepare comments to council.
Once the case ends, council will review the sanctions and censure put in place against Paull to determine if they should be lifted or continue.
There was no discussion on the resolution with Paull noting that because it involves him directly, he would have to recuse himself if there were questions or comments from councillors.
Paull's censure and sanctions, including stripping him of travel and lobbying budgets as well as removing him from committees, were put in place April 30. The backlash from council came after Paull tried to share a book at a Cariboo Regional District meeting which downplays the abuse Indigenous people in Canada faced from the residential school system. Paull said he used the book as an example at the meeting to make a point about SOGI and books available at schools, he initially denied sharing the book. Two CRD officials said Paull asked if they'd like to read the book.
The controversy around Paull and the book began prior to that when it was revealed his wife, Pat Morton, was sharing the book throughout the community. As a response to that, council voted to reaffirm their commitment to reconciliation.
Lhtako Dene Nation, Nazko First Nation and Lhoosk'uz Dené First Nation said they will not work with Paull moving forward. They have continued to work with members of council and city staff on events, projects and reconciliation efforts.
Paull launched a legal challenge against the city claiming council blindsided him and unfairly imposed the censure and sanctions on him. The city responded to the legal challenge saying it acted fairly and if Paull had a concern it should have been raised with the city.
The city could not confirm to The Observer if taxpayers are paying Paull's legal bills in his legal challenge, citing the ongoing court case as the reason they could not share that information.
One of the conditions council laid out to have his sanctions lifted include Paull offering a sincere apology to Indigenous communities. He has not yet offered that apology.
At the height of the controversy surrounding Paull residents of Quesnel and the surrounding area, including Indigenous communities asked Paull to resign. He was also asked not to participate in this year's Billy Barker Days festival.
Paull was elected mayor in 2022. There is no mechanism for a mayor in B.C. to be removed other than by resignation.
