Moose Jaw City Council has decided to stay neutral in the decisions being made in regards to the possible sale of one of its investments.

 

Moose Jaw City Council has decided to wash their hands of the situation for the time being.

Our elected officials voted last night on a possible offer to purchase the Moose Jaw Pork Plant. City Hall gets a say since they received one percent of the shares in the company as credit for taxes due last year.

Councillor Brian Swanson put forward the motion to stay out of the deal.

"I'd rather not be in a position where I voted to support this even though I want the pork plant open. I think there's further things that have to fall in place and I'd rather we remain neutral until we get those. I'd rather abstain from voting on this given I have questions that can't be answered in a public forum with respect to the proposed lease agreement."

Councillor Dawn Luhning shared Swanson concerns.

"I want the pork plant open as much as anyone else out there however I still have those concerns that we are suddenly a share holder in a company that we known nothing about and I think in that respect I will vote in favour of Councillor Swanson's motion of abstaining from voting."

Council passed the motion 3-2 with Councillor Darin Chow declaring a conflict of interest and left the debate. Mayor Dale McBain was not happy with the decision to abstain saying it sends the wrong message.

"We are not going to sway the shareholder's meeting with our votes but I do believe that it’s important for us to vote in favour and therefore I will not be supporting the motion to abstain."

Councillor Regina Sagal-Hendry was also against the motion.

"I think its important as well to send a message that we are working towards to having this plant open and running again so I will not be supporting the motion that’s on the floor."