The Ontario Provincial Police are looking into a criminal harassment complaint that the mayor of Pickering has filed on behalf of the city’s council against fellow councillor Lisa Robinson.
Mayor Kevin Ashe started the complaint in December through Durham police, according to Coun. Linda Cook in an email to CBC Toronto on Thursday.
Cook mentioned that this complaint is a “joint investigation filing from all the [five] members of council.”
In a statement released on Thursday, the OPP confirmed they are investigating criminal allegations from Pickering council that were referred to them by Durham police in November, but they did not share more details.
Robinson, who was elected in 2022, has previously denied any wrongdoing.
CBC Toronto has reached out to Robinson for her response.
Cook explained that the case was handed over to the OPP because changes in the Community Safety and Policing Act require investigations to be conducted by law enforcement outside of Pickering’s jurisdiction.
The OPP inquiry marks another chapter in an ongoing conflict between Robinson and city council that began more than a year ago. The councillor has faced multiple controversies and is currently serving her second consecutive 90-day pay suspension since September.
WATCH │Pickering council moves meetings online due to threats, mayor says:
Pickering city council moves meetings online due to threats, mayor says
According to Pickering’s mayor, security threats from supporters of one councillor have led the city to shift all council meetings online. CBC’s Tyler Cheese has more details.
At that time, the municipality’s integrity commissioner determined that Robinson had shown a pattern of “unacceptable behaviour” that could harm marginalized community members.
In August, Robinson appeared on a contentious podcast where host Kevin Johnston called her fellow councillors pedophiles, Nazis, and fascists while sharing their contact information. He also suggested releasing a violent dog on council members and advocated for “70s biker types with big biceps … [and] knuckles that had scar-tissue” to forcibly remove the mayor and councillors.
Johnston has repeatedly exhibited racist behavior over recent years and had previously pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime in Ontario related to anti-Muslim posts he shared online.
Last week, Ashe announced that due to ongoing security threats from Robinson’s supporters, all council meetings would be held virtually.
Ashe made this announcement during a nearly 13-minute video posted on the city’s You Tube channel on December 30, 2024. The video highlighted various incidents involving Coun. Lisa Robinson while showing screenshots and playing audio recordings of some graphic threats received by councillors as a result.
Cook stated there is another criminal investigation happening regarding a threatening voicemail left on the city’s phone line for her and Coun. Mara Nagy.
This separate investigation was also passed along to the OPP, she noted.
Cook added that Durham police have directed her and Nagy towards victim services where they “have received support as a result of this mounting aggression towards council and the city.”
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Pickering city council moves meetings online due to threats, mayor says
According to Pickering’s mayor, security threats from supporters of one councillor have led the city to shift all council meetings online. CBC’s Tyler Cheese has more details.
At that time, the municipality’s integrity commissioner determined that Robinson had shown a pattern of “unacceptable behaviour” that could harm marginalized community members.
In August, Robinson appeared on a contentious podcast where host Kevin Johnston called her fellow councillors pedophiles, Nazis, and fascists while sharing their contact information. He also suggested releasing a violent dog on council members and advocated for “70s biker types with big biceps … [and] knuckles that had scar-tissue” to forcibly remove the mayor and councillors.
Johnston has repeatedly exhibited racist behavior over recent years and had previously pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime in Ontario related to anti-Muslim posts he shared online.
Last week, Ashe announced that due to ongoing security threats from Robinson’s supporters, all council meetings would be held virtually.
Ashe made this announcement during a nearly 13-minute video posted on the city’s You Tube channel on December 30, 2024. The video highlighted various incidents involving Coun. Lisa Robinson while showing screenshots and playing audio recordings of some graphic threats received by councillors as a result.
Cook stated there is another criminal investigation happening regarding a threatening voicemail left on the city’s phone line for her and Coun. Mara Nagy.
This separate investigation was also passed along to the OPP, she noted.
Cook added that Durham police have directed her and Nagy towards victim services where they “have received support as a result of this mounting aggression towards council and the city.”Source link
