Guy Giorno

Six Council Members filed a complaint alleging that a seventh Council Member contravened the Code of Conduct by disclosing confidential information from a closed meeting to a journalist.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated and found insufficient evidence to conclude that the Respondent shared specific details from the closed meeting.

The complaint was dismissed with no recommendation for penalty.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated a complaint against a municipal councillor regarding racially insensitive comments made in an email exchange and a subsequent television interview.

The complainant alleged the councillor's remarks about 'white people' and 'native people' violated several provisions of the Council Code of Conduct.

The Commissioner found that the Code's 'Key Principles' could not be independently breached, and that Rule 13 did not apply.

However, the Commissioner concluded that the councillor failed to conduct himself with appropriate decorum, contravening Rule 15.

The Commissioner recommended that City Council accept the report and the finding of a Rule 15 violation, noting the councillor had already issued a public apology.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated a complaint alleging that a Council Member contravened the Region's Council Code of Conduct.

After reviewing the complaint, response, and reply, the Commissioner concluded there were insufficient grounds to continue the investigation.

Because the existing Complaint Procedure did not explicitly permit discontinuing an investigation without reporting to Council, the Commissioner issued this report to conclude the matter.

The Commissioner also recommended amending the Complaint Procedure to grant the Integrity Commissioner explicit discretion to discontinue an investigation at any point if insufficient grounds are found.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated a complaint against a Council Member alleging violations of the principles section of the Council Code of Conduct and a subsequent allegation of reprisal.

The Commissioner found that the principles section of the Code provides interpretive guidance but cannot independently form the basis of a complaint.

Regarding the reprisal allegation, the Commissioner noted that while the Council Member sent an email declining to assist the constituent due to the ongoing Code proceeding, the Member actually forwarded the constituent's inquiry to staff.

Therefore, no denial of service occurred, and the complaint was dismissed.

An individual filed a complaint alleging that Warden Jennifer Murphy contravened the County's Council Code of Conduct based on comments in a local newspaper and her conduct at a township council meeting where she demanded an apology from another mayor.

The Integrity Commissioner issued an interim report declining to proceed further with the investigation, finding that the dispute involved political judgments and oratorical styles that fall outside the purview of an ethics investigation.

The Commissioner recommended no further action unless directed by County Council.

The Mayor of North Algona Wilberforce filed a Code of Conduct complaint against the Warden of Renfrew County following a public dispute over comments made at a council meeting.

The Integrity Commissioner issued an interim report declining to investigate the matter further, finding that the dispute involved political judgments and interpersonal behavior that did not warrant the further expenditure of municipal resources unless specifically directed by County Council.

An employee of the Town of Orangeville filed a Code of Conduct complaint against a Council Member.

The respondent Council Member challenged the Integrity Commissioner's authority to investigate, arguing his reappointment was invalid due to a recent tied vote at Council.

The Integrity Commissioner issued an interim report confirming that his appointment had been validly renewed by a prior confirming by-law, which remained in effect.

The Commissioner declined to suspend the investigation and directed that it proceed.

A complaint was filed against a municipal councillor for disclosing a committee member's email address to other committee members without consent, allegedly breaching the Code of Conduct.

The Integrity Commissioner found that the email address constituted personal and confidential information, and that the councillor breached section 8.2 of the Code by disclosing it.

However, the Commissioner found no breach of section 8.5, as the information was used for a political purpose rather than personal or private gain.

The Commissioner recommended that the finding of a contravention be adopted but that no penalty be imposed, noting the councillor's immediate apology and the systemic lack of awareness regarding the protection of committee members' contact information.

A local resident filed a complaint alleging that a municipal councillor was in a conflict of interest and biased regarding the Town's consideration of switching to OPP policing, because the councillor was employed as the CAO of a county that used OPP policing.

The Integrity Commissioner found that the municipal Code of Conduct did not cover non-pecuniary conflicts of interest or common law bias.

Even if it did, the evidence did not establish that the councillor had a closed mind or a personal interest in the matter.

The complaint was dismissed as the councillor did not contravene any provisions of the Code.

The Mayor of the Township of North Algona Wilberforce filed a Code of Conduct complaint against a Councillor, alleging a relentless personal attack amounting to harassment.

The Integrity Commissioner investigated three specific allegations: that the Councillor improperly made public a personal letter from a temporary employee, announced that a closed session related to the Mayor, and gave unauthorized direction to the Public Works Director.

The Integrity Commissioner found that the Councillor did not contravene the Code of Conduct on any of the allegations.

The letter was made public by staff, the disclosure regarding the closed session did not breach confidentiality provisions, and the Councillor did not improperly direct staff.

The complaint was dismissed.

The Mayor of the Township of North Algona Wilberforce filed a Code of Conduct complaint against two Councillors, alleging they engaged in harassment by repeatedly calling for her resignation and moving a motion to that effect.

The Integrity Commissioner found that while the motion was improper and hurtful, it was an isolated incident and did not constitute a course of conduct amounting to harassment under the Code.

The complaint was dismissed.

The Mayor filed a Code of Conduct complaint against the other four members of the municipal council, alleging that their handling of a prior workplace harassment investigation against her constituted harassment and breached confidentiality.

The Integrity Commissioner found that while the Mayor had legitimate concerns about the council's failure to publicly clear her name after the harassment investigation exonerated her, the specific allegations against the council members did not amount to a breach of the Code of Conduct.

The complaint was dismissed, and the Commissioner recommended an amendment to the Code to allow for the suspension of disproportionately costly investigations between council members.