In a surprising turn of events, the Village of Sayward has abandoned its Petition to the Supreme Court of British Columbia related to section 129 Community Charter. Originally filed in October, 2025, the Petition sought to reduce the number of councillors required for quorum to only two. This stunning reversal comes mere days after Mayor Mark Baker’s defamation lawsuit against prior CAO John France was dismissed.

If the quorum issue was as critical to the smooth operation of the municipality as described in The Village of Sayward’s October 2025 media release, why is it no longer important? How many taxpayer dollars were wasted during this drawn out legal process for seemingly nothing? We’ve reached out to The Village of Sayward and the PR firm they hired, Coast Communications and Public Affairs, for comment.

Summary of Petition Withdrawal

The May 14, 2026 BC Supreme Court requisition confirms that the Village of Sayward abandoned its Section 129 petition before the scheduled June hearing.

Key points from the document:

• Filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Victoria Registry (File No. 2512336)
• Filed by Dana Goodfellow, lawyer for the Village of Sayward
• Requested removal of the petition hearing from the June 1, 2026 chambers hearing list
• The petition had originally been filed October 14, 2025 under Section 129 of the Community Charter
• The document explicitly states:

“The Village of Sayward will not be proceeding with the hearing of its Petition … or the order sought within the Petition.”

In practical terms, the Village withdrew or discontinued pursuit of the court order it had previously sought under Section 129 of the Community Charter.

The October 15, 2025 media release announced that the Village of Sayward had filed a petition in BC Supreme Court seeking to temporarily reduce council quorum from three councillors to two.

The Village said the move was intended to:

• help council function effectively under the Community Charter,
• restore “order, civility, and professionalism,”
• and allow council to continue making decisions and advancing priorities such as economic development, grants, and asset management.

The release stated that council had struggled with governance issues since the last election, including the resignation of two councillors and the need for a by-election.

The Village argued that ongoing dysfunction threatened long-term municipal stability in the community of roughly 350 residents.

The statement concluded by saying the matter was before the courts and no further comment would be made.

The document is a petition filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia by the Village of Sayward under section 129 of the Community Charter.

Main purpose of the petition

The Village is asking the court to temporarily reduce council quorum requirements from three councillors to two councillors so remaining councillors can deliberate and vote on possible disciplinary actions.

Key allegations

The petition alleges that councillors Susan Poulsen and Scott Burchett may have:

• Violated conflict-of-interest and conduct provisions under the Community Charter and Village bylaws.
• Improperly disclosed confidential information from closed council meetings.
• Engaged in disrespectful behaviour toward former Chief Administrative Officer Keir Gervais.
• Potentially participated in wilful misconduct.

The petition also references possible legal action against at least one councillor, possible Village staff involvement, and allegations involving John France for allegedly assisting in possible misconduct.

Background included in the petition

The filing outlines:

• The structure of Sayward council.
• Recent resignations and by-elections that changed council composition.
• The municipality’s small size and isolated location.
• Details about council procedure bylaws and code-of-conduct bylaws.

Relief sought

The Village wants the court to allow councillors Debbie Coates and Jason Johnson to proceed with discussions and votes despite quorum complications arising from the allegations involving the other councillors.

The petition also seeks costs if the application is opposed.

This affidavit was sworn by Mark Baker in support of a court petition by the Village of Sayward seeking permission to temporarily reduce council quorum requirements.

Main purpose

The affidavit supports an application to the Supreme Court of British Columbia to allow two remaining councillors — Debbie Coates and Jason Johnson — to continue council business involving disciplinary matters despite conflict and quorum issues involving other councillors.

Main allegations described

The affidavit outlines allegations that councillors Susan Poulsen and Scott Burchett may have:

• Improperly disclosed confidential information and documents from closed council meetings.
• Breached provisions of the Community Charter and Village bylaws.
• Engaged in disrespectful conduct toward former CAO Keir Gervais.
• Potentially participated in wilful misconduct.

The affidavit also references possible legal proceedings involving councillors, Village staff, and John France for allegedly assisting in possible misconduct.

What the affidavit seeks to enable

The reduced quorum would permit council to:

• Resume consideration of a motion of censure and sanctions.
• Discuss possible litigation.
• Continue governance functions that would otherwise be stalled because councillors facing allegations cannot participate in those matters.

Overall tone and significance

The affidavit presents the situation as a governance and operational crisis for the Village, arguing court intervention is necessary so municipal business can continue despite conflicts involving sitting councillors.

Main themes across the exhibits

1. Complaints about mayoral conduct

Several exhibits relate to allegations involving Mayor Baker’s behaviour and interactions with councillors, staff, and others. These include:

• Emails and written complaints.
• References to alleged inappropriate jokes and comments.
• Apology correspondence from Baker acknowledging that some people felt offended or disrespected.
• Materials connected to harassment and code-of-conduct complaints.

One exhibit includes a written apology from Baker stating he never intended to offend anyone and would try to avoid repeating conduct that others perceived as inappropriate.

2. Internal political conflict on council

The exhibits show an escalating political divide within council involving:

• Susan Poulsen
• Scott Burchett
• Mayor Baker
• Other council members and residents

Documents suggest disputes over:

• Closed-meeting confidentiality.
• Council procedure.
• Investigations into complaints.
• Spending of taxpayer funds.
• Whether disciplinary processes were fair or politically motivated.

3. “Sayward Rant & Rave” social media activity

A substantial portion of the exhibits appears to consist of screenshots from the Facebook group “Sayward Rant & Rave.”

These posts discuss:

• Alleged misconduct by council members.
• Criticism of the mayor and council majority.
• Concerns about municipal spending and investigations.
• Claims that governance in Sayward had become dysfunctional.

The posts repeatedly characterize the complaint process as politically motivated and expensive for taxpayers.

4. Communications involving John France

The exhibits include emails and meeting arrangements involving John France, Susan Poulsen, and Scott Burchett.

These documents appear intended to support allegations that:

• Certain councillors coordinated responses to the governance dispute.
• External assistance may have been provided regarding complaints, strategy, or public communications.

5. Defamation and legal dispute materials

The later exhibits appear to include portions of court pleadings connected to a defamation lawsuit involving Mayor Baker and online/public statements about him.

These materials include:

• Defences to alleged defamatory statements.
• Arguments about truth, qualified privilege, and public-interest criticism.
• Detailed responses to allegations regarding behaviour and comments attributed to the mayor.

Overall significance

Taken together, the exhibits portray a prolonged and highly public breakdown in relationships within Sayward municipal government. They appear designed to support the Village’s position that:

• Governance has become impaired.
• Councillors are deeply divided.
• Alleged misconduct and confidentiality breaches require formal action.
• Court intervention is necessary to allow council business to continue despite conflicts and disqualifications.

This affidavit was sworn by John Thomas in support of the Village of Sayward’s application to the Supreme Court of British Columbia for a temporary reduction in council quorum requirements.

Main purpose of the affidavit

Thomas supports the Village’s request to reduce quorum from three councillors to two councillors so remaining council members can:

• Resume consideration of censure motions and possible sanctions.
• Discuss possible litigation and misconduct allegations.
• Continue municipal governance despite conflicts involving other councillors.

Key allegations described

The affidavit repeats and supports allegations that councillors Susan Poulsen and Scott Burchett may have:

• Improperly disclosed confidential information and documents from closed council meetings.
• Violated provisions of the Community Charter and Village bylaws.
• Engaged in disrespectful conduct toward former CAO Keir Gervais.
• Potentially participated in wilful misconduct.

The affidavit also references possible legal proceedings involving councillors, Village staff, and John France.

Thomas’s role and perspective

Unlike the mayor’s affidavit, this filing appears to come from an administrative and governance perspective. As a former acting CAO and advisor, Thomas presents himself as someone familiar with:

• Council procedures.
• Municipal governance requirements.
• Closed-meeting confidentiality obligations.
• Operational impacts caused by council dysfunction.

Overall significance

The affidavit reinforces the Village’s argument that governance has become impaired by ongoing disputes, allegations, and conflicts of interest, and that court intervention is needed to allow council operations and disciplinary proceedings to continue.

The exhibits attached to the affidavit of John Thomas contain bylaws, correspondence, FOI materials, complaints, emails, legal communications, and governance records related to the ongoing conflict within the Village of Sayward.

Main themes in the exhibits

1. Municipal governance and officer authority

Several exhibits contain:

• Village bylaws defining the powers and responsibilities of municipal officers and the CAO.
• References to sections of the Community Charter governing council conduct and administration.
• Legal and procedural guidance about how councillors can direct staff and how council decisions must be made through formal motions.

These materials appear intended to support the argument that individual councillors cannot independently direct municipal administration outside formal council processes.

2. Freedom of Information and privacy disputes

The exhibits include:

• FOI requests.
• Complaints to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.
• Allegations that confidential or in-camera information was improperly disclosed.

Some documents specifically reference concerns that closed-meeting information connected to litigation involving Mark Baker and John France may have been released without proper council authorization.

3. Coordination among councillors and third parties

A significant number of exhibits appear to consist of emails between:

• Susan Poulsen
• Scott Burchett
• John France
• Other community or regional contacts

The correspondence discusses:

• Draft complaint letters.
• Audit and governance concerns.
• Political strategy and responses.
• Communications about investigations and elections.

These exhibits appear intended to demonstrate coordination regarding complaints and opposition to the mayor and council majority.

4. Conflict over council procedure and legality

Some exhibits involve:

• Disputes about meeting notices and procedural compliance.
• Legal advice regarding council meetings and Community Charter requirements.
• Communications from former CAO Keir Gervais refusing to proceed with actions believed to be non-compliant with legislation.

The documents portray an administration struggling with competing instructions and governance disputes.

5. Broader political and public controversy

The exhibits also contain:

• Community planning and operational documents.
• Election-related complaints and allegations of interference.
• Records showing the conflict expanded beyond council chambers into public and regional political disputes.

Overall significance

Overall, the exhibits support the Village’s broader argument that:

• Governance within Sayward had become highly dysfunctional.
• Confidentiality and procedural disputes escalated into formal complaints and legal action.
• Relationships among councillors, staff, and members of the public had significantly deteriorated.
• Court intervention was necessary to restore the municipality’s ability to function and make decisions.