Latest news with #RussWyatt
CBC
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Fire in east Winnipeg exposed area that is 'ticking time bomb': city councillor
Social Sharing An area of east Winnipeg that was swept up in a grassfire on Monday is a ticking time bomb, according to Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona). Dozens of vehicles in an auto storage yard off Gunn Road, which divides Winnipeg and the rural municipality of Springfield, were destroyed by flames fuelled by high winds and dry conditions. The fire, which started around 2 p.m., was contained around 5 p.m. but not before propane tanks in the Oluspe Autos and Parts yard exploded, nearby hydro transformers melted, and other businesses were damaged and evacuated. The path of the blaze was marked Tuesday morning by blackened fields and a post-apocalyptic-looking mass of burned-out cars. Wyatt did not yet have complete information on the losses but said it was fortunate no one was hurt. The area has several industries and manufacturing plants, some using highly flammable materials, that might not be adequately protected. "We have a lot of, I guess you would almost call them ticking time bombs," he told CBC Manitoba Information Radio host Marcy Markusa. "[In] the RM of Springfield … they do not have fire hydrants, they do not have a full-time paid fire services, it's volunteer." Directly across Gunn from the auto yard — within the boundary of the RM — is a plant that produces a variety of chemicals and fertilizers. "It was crucial that the fire be knocked down ASAP, and it was," Wyatt said. "It was quite a day." He did not yet have complete information on the losses. The owner of Oluspe Autos and Parts did not want to comment. Brian Seaton, fire chief in the RM of Springfield, took exception with Wyatt's suggestion that the municipality might not have proper protection for the industrial park. He wanted it made clear the Springfield fire department was called to assist city crews, and water supplies that had been strategically set up by Seaton were used to fight the fire. When he became chief three years ago, Seaton said, he approached several businesses and established water supplies at the businesses "because I know that's our biggest problem." "I won't give you companies names, but [there are] … a lot of companies within the industrial area that can supply me water." The city's closest hydrants are on Redonda and Day streets, which bookend the block of Gunn that was burning. Those were too far away to hook up to, Seaton said. Thanks to the his prior arrangements "we had more water than we can actually shake a stick at," he said. The closest source of water couldn't be accessed because of the thick toxic smoke blanketing the business where it was located, so crews used the next nearest one, Seaton said. "That's why I always have a backup to a backup plan. That's how we … controlled that situation." The department recently added a new tanker for one its three fire stations "so that adds even more water supply," Seaton noted. The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Wyatt says much of the area is threaded by rail tracks and it's not uncommon for passing train wheels to send sparks into nearby dry grasses. "In the past we've had issues. About 15 years ago we had a massive fire in the RM of Springfield that affected a plastics plant that was caused by sparks from a train," Wyatt said. Fire near Balaban Place Around 4:30 p.m. Monday a fire also erupted near Balaban Place, a residential area also in Wyatt's ward. Those flames spread across several acres and threatened homes before firefighters brought them under control. The cause of that is also under investigation but "there is a very active rail line behind Balaban Place," Wyatt noted. As for the Gunn Road area, the fact it is overseen by two municipal governments is an issue within itself when it comes to regulating development, Wyatt said. He's hoping Monday's incident can lead to improvements in the area, or at least some conversations about it.
CTV News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Transcona councillor Wyatt files judicial review to overturn council reprimand
Coun. Russ Wyatt is heading to court to try and overturn an official reprimand for a comment he made during a meeting.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Councillor trying to overturn reprimand
Coun. Russ Wyatt is heading to court to try and overturn an official reprimand for a comment he made during a meeting.
CBC
08-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Coun. Wyatt asks court to quash reprimand against him by Winnipeg city council
Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt has asked a court to quash a Winnipeg city council reprimand against him and order council to apologize. Wyatt is seeking a judicial review of a Jan. 30 city council vote to reprimand Wyatt for refusing to apologize for comments he made in 2023 about former Winnipeg chief administrative officer Michael Jack. "We need a change. We need a new CAO and we need to start removing some of the deadwood that exists in senior management," Wyatt said in his initial comments about Jack in 2023. Jack filed a complaint later that year, arguing Wyatt violated the harassment rule in the city's code of conduct. A subsequent report by an acting integrity commissioner found Wyatt breached that code and made "objectively offensive comments." The report recommended Wyatt apologize or face a council reprimand. After he refused to apologize, council voted 12-2 in favour of that reprimand, with some arguing this action didn't go far enough. "We need more than just we're reprimanding. I think the public needs more," Coun. Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) said at the time. Councillors Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), meanwhile, voted against that reprimand in January. Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) was not present for the vote. Neither was Wyatt, who said before the vote he didn't believe he did anything wrong In a notice of application to Manitoba's Court of King's Bench, Wyatt lawyer Dave Hill argues council erred in determining he harassed Jack and acted in bad faith by issuing a reprimand. In addition to an apology, Wyatt is seeking costs. Council Speaker Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) declined to comment. So did Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.
