Toronto councillor catches heat for driving-while-voting

Coun. Paula Fletcher angrily leaves meeting after being called out for voting on motions while driving

Torontosun.com
Feb. 19, 2021
Bryan Passifiume

More than budget deliberations drove Toronto city councillors to distraction on Thursday.

Nearing the end of a marathon nine-hour virtual meeting ratifying the city budget, council was thrown into a tizzy when Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher was called on to vote on a motion -- her Webex video window depicting her behind the wheel of a car.

“Illegal!” shouted Coun. Mike Colle, as her colleagues displayed reactions ranging from shock to amusement.

“Councillor Fletcher, you’re driving … and you’re voting? On your phone?” asked a visibly exacerbated speaker Frances Nunziata.

“You can’t vote while you’re driving a motor vehicle, it’s unlawful!” interjected Colle.

“I’m not holding the phone!” Fletcher shouted back, at one point taking her hands off the wheel and throwing them in the air.

“You’re looking at me! Hands are on the wheel, eyes are straight ahead!”

Nunziata replied, telling Fletcher it’s inappropriate.

“Okay then, I’ll leave the meeting,” Fletcher said.

“If Councillor (Michael) Thompson didn’t want every vote recorded I’d be fine. Bye!”

Coun. Shelley Carroll spent the exchange in hysterical laughter.

“I think we know what tomorrow morning’s news will be,” she laughed, while Fletcher indignantly repeated “bye!”

Fletcher barked that a staff member was holding the phone before demanding the phone be switched off -- dropping out of the meeting and relinquishing her vote on the rest of the budget motions.

Mayor John Tory defended Fletcher, saying he didn’t feel any laws were broken by her attending the meeting while driving and accusing council of ‘browbeating’ her.

The city clerk confirmed no rule exists that prohibit councillors from taking part in meeting while driving.