STATEMENT

With respect to recent events surrounding the Downtown Facility and Fieldhouse (DFFH) I wish to make the following statement. It was at the request of the senior DFFH employee responsible for Human Resources in the presence of another employee that I received files from DFFH that had been gathered by staff from the desk of a terminated employee. There was no surreptitious action or malevolent intent in doing so. I secured the material in my home office where at any given time there are a number of confidential city reports and materials. City councillors are not provided with office space at City Hall. Neither I, nor anyone else, read those materials whilst in my possession. I turned them over to my lawyer who provided them to an investigator upon request. No breach of confidentiality occurred. The Board of DFFH, which included a senior member of City Administration in an Ex Officio capacity, took reasonable action when apprised of allegations of harassment and inappropriate use of language by DFFH employees based on the information available when the action was taken. During the last year and a half the DFFH Board significantly improved opportunities for staff input into decision making. I am proud of the many improvements to customer service and third- party relationships with Curl Moose Jaw, the Moose Jaw Warriors, and the Compass Group that occurred. As well, significant improvements were made to the financial viability of DFFH as evidenced in the public 6 month financial update provided to Council immediately prior to the dissolution of the DFFH Board and imposition of sanctions by Mayor Tolmie and Councillors Luhning and Warren. I deeply appreciate the support and encouragement from numerous Moose Jaw citizens during the past several weeks. I am also so appreciative of the support from my wife and children and regret what they have had to go through. At all times during my tenure on the DFFH Board I acted to the best of my ability in striving to govern the facilities in the best interests of DFFH and our community. I will continue to serve the citizens of Moose Jaw and fulfill the mandate provided me at the last civic election.