Wild Pickering council meeting ends in second 90-day salary sanction for controversial councillor

Chaos, wild accusations and name-calling and unprofessional behaviour marred yet another Pickering council meeting involving controversial councillor Lisa Robinson Monday night as her colleagues unanimously voted to dock her 90 days pay.

The sanction, recommended by the city’s Integrity Commissioner after Robinson called for CAO Marisa Carpino – honoured with her family present at the same meeting for being named CAO of the Year by Municipal World magazine – to be terminated, along with her senior staff because of alleged corruption.

Robinson made comments on the alt-right ‘Truth Trumpet’ podcast, saying, “The corruption’s at the top,” and offering her suggestions on how to “tear City Hall down” and “stop corruption” in Pickering.

“The first thing I would do is get rid of the CAO because the corruption’s at the top,” she said. “Get rid of the city solicitor, get rid of a bunch of the directors, especially the ones who were in cahoots.”

Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe had difficulty keeping order in the chambers right from the start of the presentation from Integrity Commissioner Jeff Abrams, with uniformed police called in to remove some of Robinson’s supporters and the councillor having her microphone cut off repeatedly for not following the rules of order.

That did not stop Robinson, who spoke without a mic numerous times.

Abrams was able to deliver his report and said the 90-day penalty – the maximum allowed under the Municipal Act, Robinson’s second consecutive 90-day pay cut and her fourth Code of Conduct sanction in her tumultuous first term in office – was because the councillor showed a “lack of contrition” in making the accusations without any evidence to support them.

Abrams added that in several social media posts leading up to Monday’s meeting, Robinson even “doubled down” on her accusations.

Robinson then engaged in debate with Abrams over her free speech rights allowed under the Charter, only to be told elected officials do not have the right to “engage in the types of criticisms contained in the report.”

The embattled councillor tripled down when she had her opportunity to respond to the charges and repeated her mantra that “corruption does start at the top,” adding that it “runs wild in Pickering.”

Robinson also claimed she did not have to provide any evidence of “corruption and blackmail” to council and took a shot at Carpino as well. “Life is hard. Wear a helmet.”

“This is nothing but political vengeance,” Robinson said, vowing to “find someone who will listen” and “expose all of your backroom deals.”

Ashe encouraged Robinson to take a course to learn about council rules of order, adding that the person responsible for her losing 90 days pay is the councillor herself.

“The person responsible for this is the person who broke the rules,” Ashe said. “It’s actually shameful that you continue to abuse your role to slander without any evidence to back it up.”

Municipalities, with Pickering among them, have been calling for updated codes of conduct to address workplace harassment, as well as stricter penalties for those who violate the rules, including removal from office.

Municipal Affairs Minister Paul Calandra, who introduced legislation to do just that last week, said that removal and disqualification could only happen if the municipal integrity commissioner recommends it, if Ontario’s integrity commissioner agrees and if councillors except for the member in question unanimously agree to it in a vote.

Since her election to office, Robinson has opposed Pride events, denounced Black History Month, questioned the integrity of Durham Police and become a polarizing figure in the city. She has been found in violation of the City’s Code of Conduct by the Integrity Commissioner on several occasions and her chaotic tenure has seen her pay docked three times for 30-, -60 and 90-day periods leading up to Monday’s meeting.

That number is now four as the vote to sanction Robinson passed 6-0.