In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin wrote that he 含羞草研究社渃annot imagine含羞草研究社� that the prime minister 含羞草研究社渨ould approve and be in support of such disrespectful behaviour towards a local government, its elected civic leaders, and City staff.含羞草研究社�
The 1,100-word, four-page letter 含羞草研究社� complete with a graphic showing a map of Trudeau含羞草研究社檚 Nov. 15 walking route through the 含羞草研究社� was sent to three staffers at the prime minister含羞草研究社檚 office, the president of the Liberal Party of Canada, White Rock council and city staffers CAO Dan Bottrill and communications manager Farnaz Farrokhi.
As of Peace Arch News press time Thursday, the letter was not officially released by any of the offices. However, PAN obtained a copy independently.
The prime minister含羞草研究社檚 office confirmed Nov. 30 that the letter had been received, but said it would through them.
含羞草研究社淎s you know, the prime minister含羞草研究社檚 brief visit to White Rock was in his capacity as leader of the Liberal Party, and so I would refer you to Braeden Caley (Liberal Party of Canada director of communications) for further questions,含羞草研究社� PMO press secretary Eleanore Catenaro told PAN Nov. 30.
Caley told PAN the next day that the Liberal party does not provide copies of correspondence received without the sender含羞草研究社檚 permission, and 含羞草研究社渋t would be best for you to reach out to Mayor Wayne Baldwin if you are following up on statements he has made.含羞草研究社�
Contacted last week, Baldwin told PAN he would release the letter, and that he asked City of White Rock communications manager Farnaz Farrokhi to email it.
Farrokhi told PAN she would send a copy of the letter the following Monday morning.
Monday, the City of White Rock said they would 含羞草研究社渆xpedite含羞草研究社� a freedom-of-information (FOI) request. As of press time, it was not formally received.
After posting an article online Wednesday about attempts to have the letter released, PAN received a leaked copy.
The letter gives reasoning of why Baldwin thought the prime minister含羞草研究社檚 visit did not follow 含羞草研究社�
It says Liberal South Surrey-White Rock candidate Gordie Hogg 含羞草研究社� whom it describes as 含羞草研究社渁 seasoned politician含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� a 含羞草研究社渟elect group含羞草研究社� of individuals to welcome the prime minister 含羞草研究社渞ight in front of our City Hall.含羞草研究社� It made note that some of the invited individuals 含羞草研究社渄o not live in White Rock.含羞草研究社�
The letter says that while Baldwin understands a rally may not be an official visit, 含羞草研究社渨hen a City Hall is the marshalling point and its front lobby is used for a refuge, the situation changes.含羞草研究社�
The graphic provides details of what took place at city hall before the prime minister toured Five Corners, in the lead-up to the Dec. 11 federal byelection.
含羞草研究社淟obby used by Prime Minister含羞草研究社檚 security detail, other staff related to the visit, and the Federal Liberal candidate for South Surrey-White Rock, including his guests, media, and members of his campaign team. They used City Hall含羞草研究社檚 location as Marshalling point to assess Prime Minister含羞草研究社檚 tour route and as their refuge for over 30 minutes. Mayor, White Rock City Council, and City staff not notified of details of the visit含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 the map notes.
Baldwin wrote that it would have been a 含羞草研究社渨onderful opportunity and honour for Council and City staff含羞草研究社� to have been made aware, adding that he would have excused himself from a three-day Union of BC Municipalities meeting to welcome Trudeau.
Baldwin thanked Trudeau for visiting the city, and 含羞草研究社淚 hope you can accept my sincere apology for writing you under such circumstances, but I felt it was important that you knew the reasons as to why the elected civic leaders of White Rock, especially me as the Mayor of White Rock, were not there to formally welcome you to our spectacular City by the Sea.含羞草研究社�
Baldwin noted that if White Rock council had been notified of the visit, city staff would have set aside space in city hall to accommodate the prime minister含羞草研究社檚 staff, minimized potential customer service interruptions and addressed any pedestrian and vehicle-safety concerns.
Baldwin expressed his gratitude to Trudeau and minister of infrastructure and communities Amarjeet Sohi for the the city received through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund to address 含羞草研究社� and manganese in our water.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淥ur water does meet Health Canada含羞草研究社檚 Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality; however, the arsenic levels in some of the wells peaked above the Maximum Allowable Concentration levels at times.含羞草研究社�
Baldwin said it would 含羞草研究社渂e a privilege含羞草研究社� to meet the prime minister to discuss White Rock含羞草研究社檚 needs, give the prime minister a tour of the community and show him the progress the city has made on its water treatment processes and how the research technologies can benefit other communities, 含羞草研究社渋ncluding First Nation communities.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚 humbly ask that your team at the PMO coordinates this meeting through my office.含羞草研究社�
Below is a copy of Baldwin含羞草研究社檚 letter.
by on Scribd
