Woodstock mayor says Coun. Sandra Talbot's trip sends 'poor message'

Woodstock's mayor says he's in disbelief after learning that longtime CouncillorSandra Talbot travelled out of the country recently, but won't say where.

"This from a seasoned councillor, itwould have been nice to have a heads-up about it," said Mayor Trevor Birtchon Friday.

Talbot issued a statement the same day, saying that she's in quarantine after travelling but won't say where she travelled or when. Calls from CBC News to Talbotfor more information about the trip were not returned.

And although the travel doesn't violate any existing rules for members of Woodstock council, Birtch said the trip sends "apoor message" as the community works to follow guidelines and rules to curb the spread of COVID-19.

"I'm hoping this council and the city will take the matter very seriously and look at possible revisions to our policies should something like this come up in the future," he said.

Where did she travel? Talbot won't say

Here's what Talbot said in her statement Friday:

"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. Thank you."

In addition to serving on Woodstock and Oxford County council, Talbot is also on the board of Southwestern Public Health. The health unit serves Oxford and Elgin counties and the city of St. Thomas, areas that have been hard hit by a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

Board chair Larry Martin issued a statement Friday in support of Talbot saying she is "a valued member of the Southwestern Public Health Board of Health where she has exercised the powers of her office and fulfilled her responsibilities in good faith and in the best interests of the organization."

Since March, the federal government has advised Canadians against all non-essential cross-border travel.Ontario continues to deal with a rapidly worsening surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Theprovince went into a lockdownon Dec. 26 and is now under a full stay-at-home order.

Following orders to limit contact with people they don't live with, many Canadians eschewed visits with loved ones over the holidays to help curb the spread of a virus that has now killed more than 17,000 Canadians.

• CBC Coronavirus Tracker

Politicians across the country have stirred outrage by taking trips, often to warm vacation spots,while others hunkered down at home. Rod Phillips resigned as Ontario's finance minister on Dec. 31 after it was revealed he travelled to St. Barts over the holidays.

Paul Woods, the CEO of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) was fired on Sunday after it was revealed he took five trips to the United States over the past year. Woods is now suing LHSCclaiming wrongful dismissal. LHSC board chair Amy Walby resigned yesterday over the fallout from the scandal.

Talbot was first elected to Woodstock city council in 1998.