Woodstock City Councillor Vacationed in the Caribbean Over the Holidays

Friday, 15 January 2021 11:14

Woodstock City and Oxford County Councillor Sandra Talbot is under fire for taking a vacation to the Caribbean over the holidays.

WOODSTOCK - A Woodstock City and Oxford County Councillor is under fire for taking a vacation to the Caribbean over the holidays.

Sandra Talbot is also the Woodstock representative on the Southwestern Public Board of Health. In a written statement provided to the media, Talbot says she did not break any rules and is self isolating.

"I am a strong proponent of the safety rules and regulations that the Canadian and Ontario governments have put in place around public health. I always promote wearing a mask and taking all steps possible to stay safe, and I follow these rules at all times myself. Canada has not banned travel. The travel restrictions in place when entering Canada require me to self-isolate for 14 days and I have been following all requirements to take my temperature and call in daily. When I come out of quarantine it will be into the new Provincial requirements to stay at home, and I will continue to do so."

Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch says he was shocked to hear this news.

"Our community has been taking the advice from the senior levels of Government and Public Health very seriously, we have done a very good job in the community and to hear that our councillor for the City of Woodstock and Oxford County, who is also appointed to the Southwestern Public Health Board has made a decision, while advice was going out to others to not travel, to do virtual get together's with family, it's something that I'm sure all of council will have to take a look at and reflect on and we have to revisit some of our codes and conduct policies."

Birtch did say that Talbot did not break any codes of conducts or policies by taking that vacation.

"Not to my knowledge but in light of hearing others in similar situations, I think it's time that items like this get looked at in greater detail."