Whitby councillor hijacks foodbank discussion for carbon tax rant, ejected from Regional meeting

Whitby Regional Councillor Steve Yamada is back in the headlines after getting himself ejected from a Regional meeting for derailing a conversation about homelessness with comments about the Federal Carbon Tax.

In the Oct. 9 Durham Durham Commitee of the Whole Meeting, Whitby Regional Councillor Maleeha Shahid put forward a motion calling on the Federal Government to provide more support to local foodbanks.

According to Feed the Need in Durham, foodbank use has skyrocketed in recent years. Their latest report says they’ve distributed nearly eight million pounds of food since 2018. In that time visits to the foodbank have increased 50 per cent.

The distibutor credits this growth largely to inflation which peaked early last year. At the time food inflation alone reached 11 per cent. These rates have since cooled somewhat but remain around seven per cent.

When it was his turn to speak on the motion, Councillor Steve Yamada, who is running as a Conservative in the next Federal election, instead blamed the Federal Carbon Tax for raising the price of food.

To Yamada’s point, the carbon tax does increase the food prices by about 0.3 per cent, according to the Bank of Canada. This breaks down to three cents per $100 worth of groceries. Additionally most Canadians get more back in their Carbon Tax rebate than they spend over the year.

Following Yamada’s claim, Chair John Henry interupted the councillor. “I’m sorry. No. Councillor, I’m calling you to order now.” Though Yamada tried to go on his microphone was quickly muted.

“I have made a commitment to this council not to bring politics from another level of gevernment into this room,” Henry, “I’m going to ask you to withdraw your comments, and if not, I’m going to eject you from the room.”

Yamada resisted though cannot be heard on the video. “No,” Henry continued, “withdraw your comments or leave.” Yamada packed up and left the room.

Henry then addressed the room. “Members of council, this is probably the most difficult time in the history of this country since the Second World War.  “I am not going to let politics from other levels of government come into these council chambers, and I refuse to turn this council chamber into what you see at Question Period and Queen’s Park or in Ottawa.”

He asked the remaining members if everyone understood, “I’m looking for nods.” He added, “I don’t get angry very many times but I’m upset right now.”

Shahid’s motion passed unanimously.

Sparks fly in Whitby Council

Previously Yamada was at the centre of heated debate in Whitby Town Council after his longtime ally Regional Councillor Christopher Leahy alleged Yamada was mistreated during his tenure as Deputy Mayor due to his race.

Yamada, who is of Japanese descent, served as Deputy Mayor in the spring before the summer break. During this time the town changed its appointment procedure from a rotation of the four Regional Councillors to a Mayor appointment and council confirmation. Yamada resigned the position after the change.

During the Oct. 7 discussion to confirm Local Councillor Niki Lundquist as Deputy Mayor, Leahy derailed the conversation with allegations of racism. He accused other councillors of subjecting Yamada to microaggressions due to his heritage. Roy interrupted, demanding Leahy apologize or leave the chamber. Leahy refused to do either and the meeting was adjourned after a brief recess.

Whitby’s leadership widely condemned Leahy’s actions, as did Regional Liaison to the Durham Anti-Racism Task Force and Ajax Regional Councillor Sterling Lee (who is also Asian-Canadian).

Yamada however called Leahy an “ally” and supported his claims of racially-based mistreatment. He likened his experience to the internment of Japanese citizens during the Second World War. The 20,000 people interned in camps included Yamada’s grandparents, he said. He noted that while the treatment of Asian Canadians has improved, issues of discrimination persist.