Your Council

Your new Mayor:

Cindy Jeffries: Jefferies, previously a councillor long ago, re‑elected in 2021.

In July 2023, she was found to have breached the Code of Conduct by accepting corporate donations during her 2021 campaign — contravening the provincial rules (no corporate donations).

Though the provincial body had already investigated and the matter adjudicated, the city council accepted the breach.

Summary: Jefferies is not extremely new, but her breach is a recent documented case of rule‑breaking.
-Accepting Corporate donations during ele

Second Code of Conduct investigation this year against Red Deer city councillor finds breach
Jul 24, 2023 | 7:19 PM

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Kraymer Barnstable: Barnstable was elected in October 2021.

In May 2023, an independent investigation found that he breached the Council’s Code of Conduct on two of six allegations.

The breaches included publicly discussing confidential information and posting misinformation (related to an event for children) on social media.

As a result, the council required him to complete training in confidentiality and in diversity & inclusion by a specified deadline.

The investigation noted further context: Barnstable posed for a photo with a controversial figure, and the complainant alleged that contributed to undermining the city’s inclusive image.

Summary: While not brand‑new (he’s been a councillor since 2021), Barnstable is still relatively new compared with longer‑tenured councillors, and his conduct issues are recent enough to be noteworthy.

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Dianne Wyntjes, a Red Deer city councillor, has been involved in several notable controversies and decisions that have sparked debate.

1. Opposition to Overdose Prevention Site Closure

In February 2024, Wyntjes voted against the closure of Red Deer's only overdose prevention site, which was scheduled to shut down by spring 2025. She expressed concerns that the closure would leave a gap in services for individuals at various stages of addiction recovery. Her stance was in contrast to the majority of the council, who voted to close the site, aligning with Alberta's shift towards a recovery-focused model over harm-reduction strategies.

2. Support for Conversion Therapy Ban

In March 2020, Wyntjes introduced a motion urging Red Deer city council to support a federal ban on conversion therapy. While the motion aimed to show support for the LGBTQ+ community, the council's vote resulted in mixed resolutions, with some councillors voting against acknowledging the negative impacts of conversion therapy. This outcome led to disappointment among LGBTQ+ advocates, who felt the council's actions did not align with inclusivity principles.

​3. Criticism from Conservative Groups

Wyntjes has faced criticism from conservative groups for her votes on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In a 2023 municipal election campaign, a pro-life organization targeted her and other councillors, labeling them as part of the "woke five" for voting against defunding DEI programs. The group accused them of promoting what they termed "anti-Christian LGBT ideology," reflecting the polarized views on her policy positions.

These instances highlight the contentious nature of some of Wyntjes' decisions, which have elicited strong reactions from various community sectors.