LLB County demands councillor Darlene Beniuk apologize for “unacceptable” comments

Lac La Biche County Council is demanding that councillor Darlene Beniuk make a written and public apology for comments made during the July 22 meeting, that the municipality says were “unacceptable” and “will not be tolerated.” 

Three motions were agreed upon out of a special council meeting, in-camera session, on Tuesday on this issue, including the need for an apology. 

The other two are:

“To direct Administration to draft a letter on behalf of Council to the Minister of Municipal Affairs to express concerns with the removal of the Council Code of Conduct provisions from the Municipal Government Act and include the Beaver Lake Cree Nation correspondence, and further to advocate that the Province expedite the creation of the municipal ethics commissioner and associated regulations to deal with Council conduct matters.” 

And: 

“That Mayor Reutov shares the outcomes of the July 29, 2025 Special Council Meeting with members of the Indigenous Collaboration Committee (ICC).”

Council meeting, July 22. Discussion begins at 51:22. 

Cold mix, heated room

The comments are believed to stem from a heated discussion at the council table about whether to do cold mix repairs at an intersection of Township Road 660A and Range Road 134, located within the Beaver Lake Cree Nation boundary.

According to council notes, Beaver Lake approached the County because they are currently working on Twp Rd 660A and whether they would extend into the intersection of Range Road 134A. This had an estimated cost of $34,000, according to the County. 

Questions about whether this an agreement done on the golf course – levied against CAO Manny Diel – whether there was precedent or protocols and procedures for doing work outside of their jurisdiction, both asked by councillor Charlyn Moore, became dwarfed by councillor Darlene Beniuk’s over five minute speech. 

She asked who made the offer that they were going to do this for free, and complained that roads in her ward, namely Elinor Lake road and Christy Creek Bridge, were being neglected. 

“Everything is going to help. I could use oil in my area, and so could you, and you, and you. Beaver Lake Cree Nation does not pay taxes. They have never given as much as a plugged nickel to anything that this County has done. Who made the offer without asking us? Number one,” Beniuk said during council. 

“Contract, we need that. Number two. When they pay for it as well, because we will be held liable going forward. They already have litigation with the federal government, the provincial government, and maybe you guys better check that out, and now it will be municipal. It will raise our taxes exponentially to go to courts. I am not willing to put our county, our country, our taxpayers, in jeopardy in any form or shape.” 

The speech continued for a few minutes more, mentioning how LLB County has paid for dancers, fiddlers, and hall rentals. 

“Why would I be doing somebody else’s road unless we are under contract to do so?”

Manager of Public Works, Randi Dupras, said afterwards:

“I just want to mention that there was no offer or agreement made. Basically, I think Beaver Lake Cree Nation obviously found out that we were doing cold mix rehabilitation work there, because it was basically that day that they requested us to do that work, which is unfortunate too, because now it’s a rushed thing if we’re going to be doing this while we’re in the area. 

“Administration wants to have Council decide on this. We are definitely not providing any indication of whether we are or are not doing this.” 

Council then defeated a motion to proceed with the work. But a followup motion with Mayor Paul Reutov that included approaching Beaver Lake about a cost recovery option then passed. 

No sanctions because of MGA, says Council

The County issued a press release Wednesday morning outlining these followup motions. 

“These individual views do not reflect the collective position of Council or the values of the broader Lac La Biche County community.

“While Council Members have the right to express personal views as part of healthy democratic debate, Council firmly rejects any comments that diminish the County’s commitment to truth, reconciliation and mutual respect.” 

It also states that with recent amendments to the Municipal Government Act, they don’t have options to sanction a council member. 

However, “we take the importance of upholding our collective integrity and community relationships seriously.” 

Beniuk had already been removed from council committees earlier this year, after being charged with uttering threats and unauthorized possession of a firearm following a Lac La Biche Gas Co-op meeting. 

Her court matters on July 21 were adjourned to August 11.