There was an intense moment in Vancouver's city council chambers last night.
During a meeting on policy and strategy priorities on Wednesday, Oct. 23, a sitting councillor used an expletive while discussing proper procedure.
"This is not the wild west of f---ing procedure"
The incident unfolded just after 4:30 p.m. — the meeting had started at 9:30 a.m. — when there was some confusion around points of procedure, extending the meeting, and who could still speak on motions.
Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung became frustrated with how an extension of the meeting was moved forward by councillors Mike Klassen (who was chairing the meeting) and Rebecca Bligh. All three councillors are members of Mayor Ken Sim's ABC party.
"We can't just whip in whenever we feel like it and throw it out there without taking the queue, and councillors do have a right to debate motions," Kirby-Yung said during the meeting.
"So if we could not dispense with procedure and councillors could follow that out of respect for their colleagues so colleagues a chance to weigh in to decide or to advise if they're able to stay I would appreciate that."
"This is not the wild west of f---ing procedure."
Kirby-Yung immediately apologized for the expletive.
"I apologize for that," she said at the same time as Bligh reacted.
"Oh my gosh, I'm going to call a point of order," Bligh said.
At that point, the two councillors began to speak over each other.
Microphones at the meeting picked up Kirby-Yung saying "I was in the middle of speaking" just before the mics were cut off.
Coun. Lisa Dominato then called for a 10-minute recess.
After the recess, Kirby-Yung came back to the chambers and apologized for her remarks.
"I would like to just apologize unreservedly," she said.
She added that the outburst was not "reflective of the decorum that we should have in our chambers."
Councillor "deeply regrets" outburst
Speaking to V.I.A. by phone the following day, Kirby-Yung said she "deeply regrets" her behaviour in council chambers.
"I was frustrated," she explained. "I spoke out of turn and ranted, and immediately apologized."
Kirby-Yung noted councillors need to be held to a certain standard in meetings.
"We should be held to a higher one and I failed at that," she added.
Outbursts are not unheard of in Vancouver politics, she added, given how passionate people are who get involved in the first place.
"It's not unusual to see some pretty high emotions in a council meeting but that doesn't excuse my behaviour at the council meeting yesterday," she said.
As well as apologizing to those at the meeting, she's apologizing to the people of Vancouver as well.
"I was tired, and I didn't behave well yesterday, and I should apologize to Vancouverites as well," she said.
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