Wyatt sought pandemic inquiry before election defeat

Russ Wyatt pushed for a federal inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic before he was dumped from his council seat in the civic election last month.

Before he lost the Transcona ward to Lora Meseman, Wyatt introduced a motion calling for a federal commission to examine the pandemic and develop a national preparedness plan for future public health emergencies.

The motion, deferred in September and set to be considered by the East Kildonan-Transcona community committee Nov. 18, raises unsubstantiated claims about vaccine-related health issues and references conspiracy theories about the pandemic.

It proposes that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities call on Ottawa to establish a multi-party inquiry into the pandemic and its aftermath, when the federation meets at its annual convention next year.

North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty, who chairs the committee, questioned Wyatt’s motivations for bringing forward the COVID proposal.

“I would argue that the motion like the COVID one was simply trying to get attention during the election campaign,” Browaty told the Free Press on Thursday.

Wyatt has been charged in connection with two sexual assault investigations relating to incidents in October 2023 and December 2025. Police allege that in each case the victim was drugged and sexually assaulted at a Winnipeg home after contact was made on social media.

The former councillor said Thursday he was serious about the COVID commission proposal.

He said he would have held a news conference and campaigned on the issue if it was just an election ploy.

“I did neither. It’s too important for that,” he said. “The so-called experts say we are going to have another pandemic in the lifetime of most. So why haven’t governments been transparent and open about the lessons of the last pandemic?”

Wyatt said municipalities bore significant consequences from the pandemic and should have a voice in preparing for the next one.

“Hopefully the new council supports this so it can go on for consideration at the convention floor policy debates, at the annual Assembly of Manitoba Municipalities convention and at the annual FCM convention,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt also introduced a separate motion calling for Winnipeg to begin planning its first light-rail transit line, arguing the city has fallen behind other major Canadian municipalities in developing public transportation infrastructure.

That motion, also on next week’s agenda, calls for funding in the city’s 2027 capital budget to begin planning an LRT network, including identifying potential routes and securing land for future lines.

Browaty, meanwhile, expressed doubt that either of Wyatt’s proposals would gain traction at next week’s meeting.

“I wouldn’t think so,” he said. “In the near term, enhancing and addressing issues with our current Transit system is the more immediate priority.”

scott.billeck@winnipegfreepress.com