Glen Carritt (Photo: Town of Innisfail)

By rdnewsNOW staff

promoted violating provincial health measures

Glen Carritt resigns from Innisfail town council

Jan 12, 2021 | 11:15 AM

A member of Innisfail town council announced his sudden resignation Monday night.

Glen Carritt resigned shortly into council’s first meeting of 2021 following a discussion relating to his promotion on social media of a local business opening its doors in violation of the province’s current public health measures that are in place.

That business, Bladez 2 Fadez hair salon, opened Tuesday morning despite the fact that personal services businesses such as hair salons are to remain closed through at least Jan. 21 as per the province’s current COVID-19 restrictions.

“I’m supporting them because I think they’re a little nervous about opening up against the recommendations of the provincial government. They need to take care of their livelihood and they feel they can take all the precautions big box stores can take,” Carritt told rdnewsNOW in an interview on Friday.

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“We feel all businesses are essential. They’ve done their part and they’ve complied with the 28-day lockdown,” he added. “Everybody feels there’s going to be no end to this, and quite frankly, these people are going broke. They have to start taking care of themselves. I encourage more people to do the same.”

A media release from the Town of Innisfail says councillors indicated at Monday night’s meeting that they too were concerned with the well-being of all Innisfail businesses, but noted that promoting a business to open in spite of government restrictions did not reflect the mandate of council.

Council’s authority and decision-making powers are regulated by Alberta’s Municipal Government Act and through municipal bylaws. As outlined in the Municipal Government Act and within the Town of Innisfail Code of Conduct bylaw, decision making authority lies with council, and not with any individual member.

It was also noted, the Town says in its release, that the Code of Conduct bylaw is specific in outlining council’s requirement of “[upholding] the law established by the Parliament of Canada and the Legislature of Alberta, and the bylaws, policies and procedures adopted by council.” It was during this discussion that Carritt tendered his resignation.

Mayor Jim Romane admitted he was surprised that Carritt did so.

“We (council) feel as a councillor he was maybe over stepping his bounds and that council as a whole had agreed to cooperate with Alberta Health Services on these regulations,” says Romane. “But one thing led to another and Mr. Carritt decided to tender his resignation and left.”

Romane, however, expressed his gratitude for Carritt’s service to the community over the years.

“I respect where he’s coming from as an individual,” adds Romane. “He’s a small businessman himself, so he certainly is in that category as well, but it’s not fair to the other small businesses that are living with the restrictions. It will be up to the authorities on how to deal with it now.”

Town council will discuss the vacancy resulting from Carritt’s resignation during their Jan. 25 meeting and determine at that time whether a by-election will be required. The next Municipal Election takes place this fall on October 18, 2021.

Carritt previously announced his intention to run for mayor this fall.

rdnewsNOW has reached out to Carritt for further comment.