Mayor Joe Branco and the City of Wetaskiwin have struck a court-approved deal that will let him back into City Hall once he finishes respectful workplace training. The interim stay agreement, approved by the Court of King’s Bench on August 18, 2026, ends months of restrictions that kept the elected mayor away from municipal offices and staff.
The investigation that led to those restrictions involved allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour dating to 2024. A harassment investigation confirmed that Branco had used names like “sweetie,” “his girl,” and “favourite employee” toward a female City worker, made unwanted comments about her appearance, invaded her personal space, and intentionally mispronounced her last name with a sexually explicit term. The employee reported severe emotional distress, including crying and anxiety. City council voted 6-1 on January 13, 2026, to ban Branco from City Hall, with only the mayor himself voting against it.
Under the new agreement, Branco must complete a one-on-one workplace restoration training session, which the City will pay for. He also cannot have contact with the complainant or enter the office area where she works. To help make that possible, the chief administrative officer’s office is being moved outside the restricted zone.
Branco said he felt “a sense of relief” and wants to get back to representing the people who elected him. He acknowledged finishing the training and said that while he honestly does not believe he offended, he is sorry if he did.
The deal does not end the legal fight. Branco filed for judicial review in July 2026, arguing the City’s actions were unreasonable and blocked him from doing his job. His lawyer, Roberto Noce, said a hearing is expected in fall 2027 and that the case could set a precedent for every municipality in Alberta about how much power a chief administrative officer has over an elected council.
The City of Wetaskiwin confirmed the interim agreement and said the CAO’s office is being moved to allow Branco access to the CAO.
