Richmond Hill Coun. Tom Muench travelled abroad during lockdown for ‘health reasons’

Mayor Dave Barrow said he was not informed of Muench’s intent to travel abroad

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 14, 2021

Richmond Hill Ward 2 Coun. Tom Muench says he travelled outside of Canada amid the provincewide lockdown when health officials advised against non-essential travel throughout the pandemic.

Muench joined a growing number of politicians across Canada who have admitted to leaving the country despite the COVID-19 restrictions.

In an email response to an inquiry from The Liberal, the councillor said he travelled abroad “for health reasons” after Dec. 14 when York Region was placed in lockdown.

“I adhered to all applicable COVID-19 travel regulations and requirements,” Muench wrote on Jan. 11.

He noted testing was done both within and outside of Canada with negative results.

The Liberal made multiple attempts to contact Muench to find out where he travelled and how long he was out of the country, but he did not respond.

Mayor Dave Barrow said on Jan. 12 he was not informed of Muench’s intent to travel abroad.

Barrow, who stayed in his condo in Richmond Hill during the holiday season, said he believed everyone was doing their best to protect themselves and neighbours during this challenging time.

While the mayor doesn’t have the power to stop councillors from making travel plans, he said his expectation was that council members would do “everything in their power” to serve the residents and “set a good example for others.”

“That’s all I can ask of them,” Barrow said.

Multiple Canadian officials have faced fierce criticism for travelling during the pandemic and some have resigned or been removed from their posts, including former Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips.

Jennifer Pyke, a former nurse from Richmond Hill who worked with mentally ill people in Toronto, said having a councillor leave the country "knowing we were in a state of lockdown is beyond thoughtless."

"It showed a reckless disregard for his constituents or anyone else. The only thing for him to do is resign," Pyke said.

Richmond Hill resident Lawrence Raifman said "too many" politicians were telling people what to do while they weren't following their own directions.

"As elected leaders they need to lead and inspire, not sneak out the back door when they think no one is watching or listening," Raifman said.

"It is absolutely disgusting," Lital Duke said. " A councillor traveling during lockdown just adds to the mounting evidence that our politicians see themselves as above the law and only have their own interests in mind."

No other Richmond Hill council members have travelled during the lockdown period, according to their email responses to The Liberal.

“I can confirm that I had no plans nor have I travelled outside of Canada for well over one year,” Regional Councillor Carmine Perrelli said.

Councillors Godwin Chan and Karen Cilevitz also said they haven’t travelled since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

York Region’s COVID-19 incidence rate -- number of new cases per 100,000 residents per past seven days -- has surpassed that of Toronto, becoming second highest in Ontario, according to York Region Public Health statistics on Jan. 6.

While most of these cases can be attributed to close contacts within households associated with recent family gatherings, as well as large manufacturing and industrial plants, travel has linked to many of these cases, Dr. Karim Kurji, the region's medical officer of health, said.