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So many members of the RM of Sherwood’s council have resigned that Saskatchewan’s government relations ministry is being forced to step in.
On Wednesday, the rural municipality posted a notice to its website confirming the resignations of Reeve Susan Oakley-Paul, Division 2 Councillor Trent Reiger, Division 3 Councillor John Wilke and Division 6 Councillor Grant Paul. The ministry said it was informed about the departures that same day.
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No reason was given for the resignations, with the notice saying the RM acknowledges and respects their decisions and appreciates their contributions.
“Despite these unexpected changes, our commitment to serving the ratepayers of the RM of Sherwood remains strong. Administration will continue to work closely with the Council to maintain stable governance and ensure that municipal services operate smoothly and without disruption,” read a statement from the municipality’s administrators.
None of the current or former councillors who responded to 980 CJME’s requests for comment have offered explanations for their decisions to step down — one said he had no comment, and the other said he couldn’t comment due to ethics rules.
Council in the RM is now one seat short of quorum, meaning it can’t conduct any regular business. The RM said the municipal operations, services and administration will continue without interruption.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations said it has started the process to restore quorum, looking for people who can be appointed to serve as interim council members.
An election for the even-numbered seats is set to be held this fall, and the RM said all vacancies will be filled. The reeve and division three councillor will serve an initial two-year term before the next general election for those seats.
Last year, an election was held for the odd-numbered seats and the reeve for a four-year term, which saw the election of two of the four people who have now resigned.
The RM of Sherwood, which surrounds the city of Regina, has been in the news recently following the approval of a large AI data centre, which is to be built within the municipality’s boundaries, though there was no indication that the resignations were connected to the project.
