Female CBRM councillors say they don't need apology for 'sexist' comments

Two female Cape Breton Regional Municipality councillors said they don't need a councilapology after comments some construed as sexist and inappropriate were made late last month.

Coun. KendraCoomesraised a point of privilege in council saying she,Coun. Amanda McDougall and Coun. Earlene MacMullinwere owed apologies after comments were made regarding McDougall's qualifications to be on the solid waste committee on Jan. 24.

Mayor CecilClarke said he wrote letters to the female councillors, asking whether they would like an apology.

Parliamentary training

In a letter back to the mayor,MacMullinsays she reviewed themeeting and while she didn't like or agree with some of the statements made she couldn't say the language used was sexist, inappropriate or unprofessional.

MacMullinsaid she resolved issues she's had with individualcouncillors,personally, and says she looks forward to parliamentary and diversity training scheduled to happen Wednesday.

McDougall who was eventually approved to be on the solid waste committee said in her letter to the mayorshe appreciatedCoombesspeaking up, butdid not agree her colleagues used sexistcomments against her.

McDougall ready to move on

McDougallsaid she reviewed conversations about her wanting to be on the solid waste disposal committee and she said she wants to move forward.

She also mentionedsome of her fellowcouncillorshad apologized if she was offended by what they said.

A great deal of positivity came from the day, McDougall wrote to the mayor,including an increased level of openness and commitmentto healthy working relationships,assurance anyremaining or underlying issues would be addressed and a boost of interest from the public into what goes on at council.

Plenty of public interest

Coombes said the only reason she raised a point of privilege was because people kept asking her about it.

"I couldn't walk into a grocery store without it being discussed because people were wanting an apology from council about what happened andthat was the reason I brought it forward," Coombes said Tuesday night.

During the Jan. 24 meeting discussing McDougall being on the solid waste committee, Coun. Clarence Prince told council that the workload for committee member was significant, and "It's a very important position to be on and you really got to work your way up."

Coun. EldonMacDonaldalso said McDougall who has only been a councillor since October hadn't been a member of council for long and that the committee work can sometimes get "pretty heavy."

• CBRM councillor feels demeaned after committee appointment questioned
• CBRM councillor says council needs diversity training to avoid 'unnecessary dramatics'
• CBRM councillor wants council apology for 'sexist, inappropriate' comments