1 week Ago By By Abiola Odutola
The embattled reeve of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis has stepped down after 23 years on council, citing a lack of support from fellow council members and “fundamental differences in values, priorities and approaches to governance.” Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support.
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The embattled reeve of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis has stepped down after 23 years on council, citing a lack of support from fellow council members and “fundamental differences in values, priorities and approaches to governance.” Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The embattled reeve of the Rural Municipality of Cornwallis has stepped down after 23 years on council, citing a lack of support from fellow council members and “fundamental differences in values, priorities and approaches to governance.” Sam Hofer announced his immediate resignation yesterday in a letter to residents, saying he could no longer effectively serve the community.
He said the challenges on council had compromised his ability to lead. Sam Hofer stepped down as reeve of the RM of Cornwallis on Monday after serving 23 years on council. (File) “My goal over the years has been straightforward — to keep our beloved Cornwallis community an affordable place to live by practising responsible spending, maintaining cost-effective operations, and fostering strong community collaboration,” Hofer wrote.
“I sought to implement quarterly engagement meetings to foster direct communication between council and residents. Regrettably, these initiatives were not supported by other council members, and I faced significant barriers in organizing them.” Elected reeve in 2022, Hofer said his decision did not come lightly, but was made in the interest of upholding the integrity of the office.
Hofer’s resignation follows months of upheaval on council. In October 2024, council passed a motion calling for Hofer to resign after an investigation by the Manitoba Ombudsman allegedly found he had inappropriately shared privileged information. However, Hofer defied those calls to resign, instead saying the matter would be left to the courts to decide.
In January, Hofer appealed a 270-day suspension imposed by councillors following a year-long investigation into alleged violations of the council’s code of conduct. Councillors described Hofer’s actions as “bad behaviour,” linking it to high staff turnover, but declined to provide specific details. At the time, Hofer returned to his duties while awaiting the outcome of an appeal.
Deputy reeve Terry Ross confirmed Hofer’s resignation Monday and expressed uncertainty about the path forward. “We were supposed to meet to reinstate some sanctions, but with his resignation, we are unaware of what our next steps are,” he told the Sun. “We’re reaching out to Municipal Affairs to find out what the protocol is and what needs to happen next.
We are heading into the office to resolve that through a resolution this evening.” Ross said he could not speak to Hofer’s allegations because he had not seen the letter. “I actually haven’t seen anything in writing yet, so I can’t comment on anything,” he said.
Ross said there had initially been four code of conduct complaints filed against the reeve. After an investigation, he said, three of the four were found to be substantiated and council implemented sanctions in accordance with the Municipal Act. “The reeve used his right to appeal the sanctions,” he said.
“For a period of time, he was back as reeve, performing his duties. But the council recently received notice that the decision had been made to deny the reeve’s appeal.” Hofer did not respond to the Sun’s request for an interview.
In his letter, Hofer claimed that despite his efforts on council, several critical areas had not met the standards of accountability the community deserves. He said the 2022 and 2023 year-end audited financial statements had not been produced, “leaving a gap in our understanding of the municipality’s financial health.” Committee meetings, he said, had not been adequately advertised, which restricted public participation in key decision-making processes.
“The annual budget meetings have failed to include taxpayers, denying them a voice in how their tax dollars are spent,” he wrote. He also raised concerns about procurement and tendering policies, saying these had not been followed for recent purchases, citing the failure to tender out the 2025 gravel purchases. “This deviation from established procedures raises questions about fairness and cost-effectiveness in our spending,” he wrote.
As well, he said taxpayers’ concerns had not been addressed promptly, and efforts to ensure a safe workplace within the RM had been insufficient. Hofer said his attempts to create transparency and accountability were met by council with resistance and avoidance. “This resistance culminated in a series of code of conduct complaints filed against me by fellow council members, which I believe were frivolous and aimed at undermining my leadership and the accountability that I was advocating for,” he said.
He acknowledged in the letter that despite what he considered “significant flaws in the process,” the complaints were upheld and his appeal was unsuccessful. “Council has proposed a suspension from my duties and a number of sanctions,” he stated. “Accepting these sanctions would compromise my integrity and the principles I stand for.
” Hofer added he had become aware of additional concerning matters within municipal operations — but, due to legal obligations, was unable to disclose further details. “I remain hopeful that these issues will be addressed appropriately in the future,” he said. “This resignation is not an admission of wrongdoing but rather a stand for the values of transparency, honesty and fiscal responsibility that I was elected to uphold.
” Hofer expressed his gratitude to residents and staff for their support over the years. “I remain deeply proud of what we’ve achieved together,” he said. “Cornwallis is a wonderful community, and I wish the council the very best as they move forward.
” » with files report from Connor McDowell and Colin Slark » X: @AbiolaOdutola Advertisement Advertisement.
