A councillor in a southern Ontario metropolis has been issued a 90-day pay suspension — essentially the most extreme penalty doable underneath present guidelines — after the municipality’s integrity commissioner discovered she has been demonstrating a continued sample of “unacceptable behaviour” that dangers hurting marginalized members of society.
It is the newest in a collection of penalties levelled towards Coun. Lisa Robinson of Pickering, Ont., and a scenario that the mayor has stated underscores the necessity for modifications to the province’s Municipal Act to permit stricter sanctions, as much as the elimination of a councillor from workplace.
Robinson, for her half, denied the integrity commissioner’s findings, known as his report “stuffed with lies” and accused the council of conducting a “witch hunt” towards her.
The scenario in Pickering, a metropolis east of Toronto, is one which has been growing since final yr.
Town’s mayor stated he is not optimistic Robinson’s newest pay suspension — her third since final September — may have a lot of an impression.
“I hope that the distraction of Coun. Robinson’s behaviour will hopefully be put within the rearview mirror. I am not assured that may occur,” Kevin Ashe stated in a telephone interview. “Our path ahead is cloudy.”
A councillor in a southern Ontario metropolis has been issued a 90-day pay suspension — essentially the most extreme penalty doable underneath present guidelines — after the municipality’s integrity commissioner discovered she has been demonstrating a continued sample of ‘unacceptable behaviour’ that dangers hurting marginalized members of society. (Doug Ives/The Canadian Press)
The mayor and councillors wrote a letter final month urging Premier Doug Ford and the municipal affairs minister to shut what they name “a obvious loophole” within the Municipal Act by strengthening sanctions that may be levelled towards councillors who interact in dangerous actions, together with the potential for elimination from workplace.
“I feel it needs to be a legislative precedence,” stated Ashe. “I am hopeful that the minister and the federal government will, briefly order, do one thing in order that councils have a stronger instrument to cope with this egregious behaviour.”
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra has stated he needs to seek the advice of extra and search recommendation from the province’s integrity commissioner earlier than tabling laws.
Robinson, in the meantime, stated any metropolis official who asks for modifications to the Municipal Act ought to step down, saying it will bar “dissenting opinion.”
“If the constituents don’t love what I’ve to say or how I am representing them, then the choice might be as much as them through the subsequent election,” she stated in a telephone interview.
Previous suspensions for cyberbullying, anti-2SLGBTQ+ remarks
Robinson, who was elected in 2022, first acquired a 30-day pay suspension in September 2023 after social media posts figuring out some Pickering residents triggered an integrity commissioner investigation for cyberbullying and intimidation. She was then condemned by council for referring to herself as a “modern-day slave” on account of the docked pay.
In October final yr, she acquired a 60-day pay suspension after one other investigation by the integrity commissioner into remarks she made about drag queen story time occasions, common washrooms and the elevating of Delight flags. The commissioner discovered Robinson had “promoted attitudes that are homophobic and transphobic,” which she denied.
In November 2023, she advised in a social media put up that the inclusion of an LGBTQ+ advocacy group within the metropolis’s Santa Claus parade can be inappropriate for youngsters. In February, she wrote an op-ed denouncing Black Historical past Month.
These public feedback had been amongst what fashioned the idea of the newest grievance investigated by the integrity commissioner, which was based mostly on issues from the general public, the mayor and fellow councillors. The grievance detailed a number of allegations of Robinson’s breaches of the council’s code of conduct, together with a number of social media posts that allegedly confirmed a “lack of respect” for the commissioner and the council, and op-eds penned by Robinson that allegedly “erode public belief.”
The commissioner’s report discovered that Robinson refused to acknowledge the impression of her actions, and that they “display an boastful self-righteousness” hardly ever seen in municipal leaders.
Councillor appeared on controversial podcast final month
Robinson got here underneath fireplace once more final month after councillors condemned her for showing in a web based present they stated promoted hate speech and extremist views.
The mayor and different councillors stated she appeared on the Kevin J. Johnston present hosted on Rumble, which they known as a “far-right video platform.” They stated the present host known as councillors “pedophiles” and “Nazis” and stated they “deserve a baseball bat to the face,” asserting Robinson smiled or nodded.
Robinson stated she has denounced the host’s feedback and apologized to her colleagues.
WATCH | Pickering mayor condemns councillor’s look on podcast:
Pickering mayor condemns councillor’s look on podcast
WARNING: This video comprises graphic language. The mayor of Pickering and 5 metropolis councillors have signed a letter to Premier Doug Ford calling for the province to introduce more durable punishments for councillors violating codes of conduct. As CBC’s Chris Glover stories, the newest push comes after Pickering councillor Lisa Robinson made an look on a podcast the place vitriolic language was used towards her fellow councillors. The allegations made by Johnston weren’t substantiated and the councillors are contemplating authorized motion.
She criticized the commissioner’s newest report and stated she has “a lot assist” from constituents.
“I’m actually OK with a pay suspension. I knew it was coming, as a result of I understand how vindictive the councillors are that I work with,” she stated. “I would not even deal with an enemy the best way that they handled me.”
Ashe, for his half, stated he hopes the longer term brings higher discourse.
“By no means in my wildest goals would I feel that this might occur in my metropolis,” he stated.
