Editorial Yorkton This Week It was Jan. 7, when Yorkton This Week first reported Saltcoats Mayor, and then president of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan Gordon Barnhart was in Hawaii. That might not sound like such a big deal coming after the holiday season, but of course we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and international travel is simply frowned upon. article continues below In fact, prior to the discovery of Barnhart s trip, Joe Hargrave, MLA for Prince Albert Carlton, had resigned as Saskatchewan Highways Minister after making a trip to Palm Springs, California in late December landed him in a public storm given the general public has been urged to stay home to control the spread of COVID-19.
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The City of Prince Albert was already examining their membership in the Municipalities of Saskatchewan before the controversy around Saltcoats Mayor and organization president Gordon Barnhart travelling to Hawaii.
However, Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne says those plans have only accelerated after news of Barnhart’s trip surfaced on Thursday.
“It wasn’t me retaliating for him doing that. This was already done before and now this thing has really added to it,” he explained.
“The Board of Directors is disappointed in President Barnhart’s decision to travel abroad,” said Mayor Rodger Hayward, Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s Vice-President of Towns. “As municipal leaders, we have a duty to lead by example and keep our communities safe by following public health measures and recommendations.” Following a meeting on January 8, Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s Board of Directors formally requested that President Barnhart respond to Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s membership, and the public, regarding his decision to travel. “Saskatchewan’s hometowns have been working diligently to support their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Municipalities of Saskatchewan has been working diligently to support our hometowns,” said Mayor Hayward. “We strongly believe that everyone should be doing their part to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.”
Now, closer to home
Yorkton This Week has learned Saltcoats Mayor, and president of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan Gordon Barnhart, has also gone south. I believe he is in Hawaii from the information I ve been able to glean, said Gerald Aalbers, Vice-President of Cities with the provincial association, and Mayor of Lloydminster.
Asked if Barnhart s choice was questionable given suggested protocols for travel Aalbers replied, I think it s an individual decision as outlined by the provincial and federal governments.
Barnhart, who served as Saskatchewan s 20th Lieutenant Governor from August 2006 to March 2012, is the lone Municipalities of Saskatchewan board member elected by the entire membership.