Robert Swayze

The Integrity Commissioner investigated approximately 80 complaints against a municipal councillor regarding tweets referring to COVID-19 as the 'Chinese Flu' and 'China Virus'.

The Commissioner rejected the councillor's freedom of speech defense, finding the tweets to be racist and inappropriate for a public figure.

The Commissioner recommended that the councillor remove the offending tweets, issue a public apology, and attend diversity and inclusion training, failing which a 60-day suspension of compensation was recommended.

The Director of Economic Development and Tourism filed a complaint against the Deputy Mayor, alleging she contravened the Council Code of Conduct by interfering with lease negotiations and publicly criticizing his actions and expenditures.

The Integrity Commissioner found that while the Deputy Mayor should not have criticized staff in public, her actions did not amount to malicious injury of professional reputation or bullying under the Code.

The complaint was dismissed without sanctions, but the Deputy Mayor was strongly warned against future public criticism of the complainant.