ELORA – It will cost Centre Wellington Township more than $21,000 for integrity commissioner Guy Giorno to investigate whether councillor Steven VanLeeuwen broke the code of conduct when he joined the End the Lockdowns Caucus earlier this year.
Councillor Neil Dunsmore asked the “how much” question at the Aug. 30 council meeting when council discussed the 54-page report that concluded VanLeeuwen did not breach the code.
Clerk Kerri O’Kane said the cost was $21,104 “and we expect more invoicing.”
End the Lockdowns Caucus is a group of politicians opposed to the lockdown measures imposed during the pandemic, claiming the effects of lockdowns are worse than COVID-19.
VanLeeuwen joined the group in February and later that month council voted to remove him from the position of deputy mayor.
At the time Mayor Kelly Linton said he and the deputy mayor need to be on the same page on important matters, especially during a pandemic and he proposed removing VanLeeuwen from the post.
Councillor Bob Foster wanted an integrity commissioner investigation of VanLeeuwen to determine if he broke the code of conduct and for that to occur before he was stripped of the title.
But the motion that council finally voted on in February contained two parts – to remove VanLeeuwen as deputy mayor and to request an investigation.
“Councillor Foster, you refused to separate the motion. Here’s $21,000 you spent needlessly,” Dunsmore said.
“We must stand up for innocent until proven guilty,” Foster replied. “Justice and fairness cost money. This was money well spent.”
Linton reminded council that he called Giorno to get his advice before the matter came to council in February and he relayed to council then that Giorno had stated that council has the right and the ability to name a deputy mayor and to remove the title as it wishes.
Linton also said Giorno told him that VanLeeuwen likely had not breached the code of conduct.
Giorno’s report reiterated that.
“I contacted him, he informed me, and I informed council,” Linton said on Aug. 30.
“I was never in favour of sending this to the integrity commissioner.”
VanLeeuwen called it a “deep and intense report that clearly shows I conducted myself properly and with integrity” and that his social media posts “were factual. I never spread misinformation,” he said.
“I find it incredible and astounding that the government is not tracing the effect of lockdowns. On a personal note, I’m saddened and appalled at the private notes by councillors.”
Foster said that since VanLeeuwen was found to have done nothing wrong, he should be reinstated as deputy mayor and he put forward that motion.
Section 226 of the code of conduct states that the appointment of deputy mayor must be made with the consent of the mayor.
“I will not give consent,” Linton said as he ruled Foster’s motion out of order.
Giorno’s full report can be found by clicking here.
