Ouellette takes aim at firefighters' union, Wasylycia-Leis

For the past two days, mayoral hopeful Robert-Falcon Ouellette has come out swinging against candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis over a recent endorsement announcement.

Ouellette wants answers about a press event held Monday by the city's firefighters' union and Wasylycia-Leis.

"I think people in the City of Winnipeg are frankly upset and tired of the old way of doing politics," said Ouellette. "Greater questions have been raised by [Alex Forrest's] comments in the past about him looking to get specific outcomes from city hall."

About 50 firefighters clad in yellow, "Fire Fighters for Judy" T-shirts packed the endorsement announcement, and United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg president Alex Forrest announced the union was officially endorsing Wasylycia-Leis.

Yellow "Fire Fighters for Judy" signs were also put up around the Maple Street museum the announcement was held in.

Ouellette challenged the union and Wasylycia-Leis on whether or not union members are taking leaves of absences from their jobs to volunteer on the campaign.

"What I have issue with is, the union using their resources in order to support a campaign because technically the union is not allowed to be doing that, nor should any private enterprise be doing that," he said. "This is why we have the campaign financing rules, to reduce the amount of undue influence."

He also wants specifics on who paid for the T-shirts and signs.

"Every single worker on any political campaign is a volunteer -- they're doing this on their own time, they're time off," said Forrest. "Secondly, in regards to any type of signs or shirts, just like it has been every single campaign we're involved with in the last decade, that is paid by the campaign that we are assisting."

Endorsement itself worrisome, Ouellette says

Ouellette said not only is the press event worrisome, the actual endorsement is a problem.

"I purposely have not met with any unions, nor have I met with any land developers," he said. "If you're going to be fully independent, you shouldn't be connected to these groups. At the end of the day, if you are connected, then your judgment is going to be, frankly, suspect."​

But Wasylycia-Leis called Ouellette's concerns unfair and totally false.

"I'm getting support and endorsements from people from all over our community, and they know that what they will get from me, because of that support is a letter of thanks and a commitment to work hard on behalf of our whole community," said Wasylycia-Leis.

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An endorsement from the firefighters' union translates to quite a force on the ground. 

So far, at least 250 firefighters have volunteered to help on Wasylycia-Leis' campaign, but Forrest said that number has grown since Ouellette levied his concerns.

"I would like to thank Mr. Ouellette because he's really mobilized our membership, and our membership is even more engaged now in political campaign," Forrest said.

Forrest said the complaints are just a tactic by Ouellette to gain more media attention and votes. He said he's not happy about the round of press releases targeting the union.

"By putting it out there in a press release, you're really making an accusation against an organization that prides itself on its respect," said Forrest.

In the last election, Forrest said firefighters put up nearly 12,000 signs for the candidate they endorsed -- current Mayor Sam Katz.

Ouellette said that type of help could easily influence a future mayoral candidate.

Endorsements a civic right, Wasylycia-Leis says

Wasylycia-Leis said endorsements are part of a civic right to be involved in campaigns.

"I'm more disturbed now to hear that he's suggesting that organizations and individuals can't express their democratic right -- everybody has a right to be involved in this campaign and choose who they want to support, whether it's the firefighters or the Chamber of Commerce," she said.

She also said she has made no promises to the union in exchange for their endorsement.

"I've said to the firefighters that my platform is primarily about fixing the city and fixing city hall and protecting services," she said. "I've also said to them I seek your support but I make no commitments other than the broad promises to make a city that works."