Former St. Andrews mayor Joy Sul says the legal fees she incurred while fighting a bylaw that stripped her of her powers have now been paid, ending her court action against the RM. However, she says the fight to get them “should have never gone this far.” “It was just unfortunate that the matter took so long to resolve, but I’m pleased it’s finally been settled,” Sul told CTV News on Friday. The former mayor of the municipality north of Winnipeg filed a statement of claim in June against the RM to recoup $49,026.46 in legal fees. Court records indicate the action was discontinued on Oct. 28. “All legal fees that I requested have now been paid to my satisfaction,” Sul said. The dispute stemmed from a fight over Sul’s authority as mayor that ended up in Manitoba’s highest court. In December 2019, council passed a bylaw preventing her from chairing council meetings and acting as the municipality’s spokesperson. Court filings note that council and Sul had disagreed over a wastewater project and that councillors were concerned about decorum at meetings. Sul challenged the validity of the bylaw in court, arguing it violated the Municipal Act. She lost in the Court of King’s Bench in 2021, but the Manitoba Court of Appeal set aside that ruling in 2023 and struck down the bylaw as invalid. According to the now-discontinued statement of claim, Sul submitted an indemnification request to the RM in July 2024 to recover legal costs it says she was “forced to undertake.” The filing claims the RM did not respond to the request until June, when it was brought to a vote. Council meeting minutes confirm a resolution was carried stating council was “not in a position to accept her final demands of $49,026.46.” Sul abstained from the vote. Sul then turned to the courts, arguing the resolution was contrary to the Municipal Act and that it obliges council to indemnify a member for costs incurred defending their office. Sul said in July the court action only sought reimbursement of her legal fees, not damages or personal financial gain. “I shouldn’t have had to retain legal counsel to get my fees back when it’s clear under Section 404 of the Municipal Act that I must be reimbursed,” she said. She said she recused herself from discussions between the RM’s lawyer and council on the matter because of a conflict of interest. She did not seek re-election in the Oct. 28 municipal election but said that decision was not related to her legal dispute with the RM. “I’ve been on council for 12 years. I have my own small business, and I love it,” she said. “It was just time not to seek re-election.” Sul, first elected mayor in 2018, called the job “very stressful” but said she is grateful for her time in office. “It’s been an honour and a privilege to serve as the mayor for the last eight years,” she said. “I’m truly humbled by the trust and encouragement and the strong support of residents I’ve received all along, ever since I’ve been on council.” Sul won more than 60 per cent of the vote in each of her runs for mayor. CTV News has reached out to the RM of St. Andrews for comment.
