A Quinte West Councillor is apologizing for a comment he made during an emotional debate about a local food truck on Monday night.
JERKebago owners Saiqa Sheikh and Josh Blake were petitioning council to lift some restrictions imposed on their Carrying Place site, saying they had received unfair and unequal treatment, since many of the complaints leading to those restrictions were unfounded.
After making their emotional plea their request was granted by a 7-6 recorded vote.
Councillor Fred Kuypers’ comments came while referencing those complaints from neighbours in the area, telling the couple that issues at the site hadn’t been rectified.
“Mr. Mayor, I was involved. You must understand sir, you created your own problems. There was problems with garbage flying around, there was problems with washroom facilities and there was problems with the fence. You never rectified it so that’s why most of the people are against you. We don’t hate you people, but you didn’t go by the rules, regulations and by-laws of Quinte West, so that’s the problem. You are your own worst enemy.”
Co-owners of JERKebago in Carrying Place, Josh Blake and Saiqa Sheikh. (Photo: Submitted / JERKebago)
In a statement released Wednesday, Kuypers apologized to both Sheikh and Blake, along with all residents in the city for his “unacceptable and hurtful comments” and says no offence was intended.
He went on to say that he’ll be taking sensitivity training, along with the rest of the council and city staff and that he will “make every effort to be more inclusive in my actions going forward.”
Here is the full statement from the City of Quinte West.
The City of Quinte West is committed to holding its staff and elected officials to the highest standards of inclusion and acceptance. At the City Council meeting on Monday night, comments were made that do not meet those standards. Councillor Fred Kuypers offers his apology below:
“To all the residents of Quinte West and especially Joshua and Saiqa, the owners of JERKabego, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for the comments I made during council on Monday evening. While I didn’t intend my comments to cause any offence, I realize now that the words I used were unacceptable and hurtful.”
“I am committed to doing better in the future and will be undergoing sensitivity training along with the rest of the council and city staff. I know I can’t take back what I said on Monday, but I will make every effort to be more inclusive in my actions going forward.”
In the spirit of inclusion, all staff and elected officials will undergo sensitivity training.
“We want everyone in Quinte West to feel like they are welcome,” says Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison. “We are working towards making sure we are all accountable for what we say and do.”
