Saanich dismisses chief administrative officer, search for replacement underway
The District of Saanich has fired its chief administrative officer and is now looking for an interim CAO to fill the role until a new council is elected next year.
The district announced the abrupt departure of CAO Paul Thorkelsson on Tuesday, saying in a statement that his dismissal was effective Monday, Nov. 29.
No reason was given for the decision.
Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes thanked Thorkelsson for his work, telling CTV News "it was the collective will of council to go in a new direction" and part ways with the CAO after nearly six years.
"This is a personal matter between our CAO, with his HR personal issues, and council," Haynes said Tuesday.
As CAO, Thorkelsson was one of the highest-earning municipal officials in the Greater Victoria region.
Haynes declined to discuss what it will cost Saanich taxpayers to replace the municipality's top executive.
The district has appointed Brent Reems, the municipality's director of building, bylaws and licensing, as acting CAO effective Dec. 6.
"Recruitment for an interim CAO will begin immediately," the district said in a statement. "The interim CAO will remain in the position until after the 2022 municipal election. The new council will be responsible for recruiting the permanent CAO."
In a statement posted to his Twitter account, Thorkelsson thanked the municipal staff for its support during his tenue.
"Council has decided to go in a new direction with the Chief Administrative Officer role," the brief statement said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.