What is causing the controversy in Pickering Council regarding police complaints and allegations of ‘far right’ activity?

January 5, 2025 TruthUSA

A Pickering city councillor is once again facing a 90-day pay suspension as she clashes with the mayor and other councillors, while the city’s integrity commissioner has filed a police complaint.

Councillor Lisa Robinson was recently sanctioned by her colleagues following a third integrity commissioner’s report over her allegations of corruption in city hall. This marks the fourth time the council has voted to sanction Robinson.

As Mayor Kevin Ashe accuses Robinson’s supporters of trespassing at city council meetings, the integrity commissioner brought forward a police complaint suggesting that Robinson may be involved in criminal harassment through her participation in “far right” media.

Robinson maintains that she is being unfairly targeted, insisting that the treatment she is receiving as an elected representative is undemocratic. She has also refuted the past decisions of the integrity commissioner, claiming she has done nothing wrong. Being a single mother, she finds it difficult to cope with extended periods of time without payment.

On December 16, the Pickering city council unanimously voted for a 90-day pay suspension. Robinson had previously been sanctioned in September 2024, resulting in a loss of 90 days of pay. Prior to that, she faced a 60-day pay suspension in October 2023 and a 30-day pay suspension in September 2023.

The 90-day penalty is the “most severe” sanction that council can impose under the Ontario Municipal Act.

The latest integrity commissioner’s report focused on comments Robinson made in an April 2024 podcast. During the two-hour interview, Robinson discussed her concerns with the city council and administration, including the city’s sanctioning of her for “intolerance, homophobia, and transphobia” after a 2023 speech she delivered about a motion she wished to propose to ban drag shows and pride parades in locations where children could be present, as well as her advocacy for gender-specific change rooms. She also indicated in the interview that if she were mayor, she would dismiss the chief administrative officer, city solicitor, and certain directors.

“Corruption starts at the top,” she stated during the podcast.

The integrity commissioner’s report concluded that Robinson’s actions were a breach of the Code of Conduct. It outlined that a councillor is obligated to collaborate with staff in a “conscientious and respectful manner” without resorting to bullying, intimidation, or abuse.

Following the suspension, the city announced that it would be implementing enhanced security measures, noting that it had been targeted by the “alt right” over the past two years.

On December 30, 2024, the city released a video on the X platform detailing the rationale behind its decision.

“The City of Pickering has seen a rise in the infiltration of alt-right individuals, ideologies, and influences, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty, fear, and intimidation for our council, staff, residents, and the broader community,” stated Mayor Ashe at the beginning of the video.

The video included evidence of alleged threats received by the city since February 2023. It also mentioned that some non-residents had been attending council meetings and attempting to record the proceedings.

At the video’s conclusion, Ashe announced that all official meetings would transition to a virtual format starting in January.

“The city’s business must and will continue. We will not subject ourselves to further harassment by these external actors nor permit them to disrupt our work,” he asserted.

The mayor informed The Epoch Times that this decision is intended to safeguard the council, staff, and residents.

“While we appreciate differing opinions and encourage respectful debates as vital aspects of a flourishing democracy, we draw the line at behaviors that threaten or undermine our collective safety,” Ashe affirmed in an emailed statement.

Robinson did not respond to a request for comment but addressed the allegations in a video she posted on the X platform on January 4.

“Pickering’s decision to move to virtual council meetings is filled with contradictions and deception. Mayor Ashe and the city claim that safety concerns are the reason behind their latest video propaganda scheme to switch to virtual meetings, but conflicting statements and actions hint at a different narrative,” she remarked in the post.

In the video, Robinson highlighted that the mayor had previously informed Global News that the city was planning to transition to virtual meetings for a year while the chamber undergoes renovations.

“Yet paradoxically, the city releases a propaganda video implying that the shift to virtual meetings is imperative due to threats and safety concerns,” she noted.

She further accused the city of seeking to eliminate political competition.

“Pickering Council has been actively lobbying Premier [Doug] Ford and Minister [Municipal Affairs, Paul] Calandra to alter the Municipal Act to grant them the authority to remove an elected official and disqualify them from standing in a subsequent election,” she alleged.

“Let’s call this what it is, election tampering. It’s an effort to suppress liberal opponents and manipulate the democratic process to maintain their hold on power.”

Pickering city councillor Lisa Robinson at the "1 Million March for Children" parental rights rally at Queen's Park, Toronto, on Sept. 20, 2024. The city has sanctioned Robinson for what it calls a pattern of 'unacceptable behaviour.' (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times) — Pickering city councillor Lisa Robinson at the “1 Million March for Children” parental rights rally at Queen’s Park, Toronto, on Sept. 20, 2024. The city has sanctioned Robinson for what it calls a pattern of ‘unacceptable behaviour.’Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times

2023 Sanctions

The initial sanction imposed on Robinson occurred in September 2023 due to social media posts she made that identified certain residents. An integrity commissioner investigation was initiated at that time based on allegations that she engaged in cyberbullying and intimidation.

The named residents had participated in a city committee meeting concerning Robinson’s request to have a shipping container on her property.

Robinson’s social media post mentioned (names redacted): “Tonight It is with great sadness that I announce that this year’s Robinsons Charity Halloween Haunt and corn maze will have to be canceled. A big Thank you to [redacted], [redacted], and [redacted] for your neighborly kindness.”

The integrity commissioner highlighted in the report that Robinson’s post “encourages her supporters to attack these residents on social media.”

Robinson was sanctioned a second time in October 2023 after motions introduced by Robinson were examined and deemed “homophobic” and “transphobic” by the city’s integrity commissioner.

This sanction was related to Robinson informing a crowd outside a meeting of the Durham District School Board on May 15, 2023, about three motions she intended to bring to council.

The motions included the prohibition of drag shows and pride parades where children would be present, limitations on flags raised in public spaces, and adjustments to the universal changing room policy at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex in Pickering. The existing policy allowed members to utilize gender-specific change rooms. Robinson advocated for the policy to enable non-members to also use gendered change rooms.

Complaints were filed by other councillors and a Durham District School Board trustee.

The integrity commissioner’s report issued at that time indicated that Robinson had “promoted attitudes” that were homophobic and transphobic. It further stated that she “failed to uphold the dignity of individuals” by proposing motions that violated Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

2024 Sanction

The third sanction followed an investigation into Robinson, concluding that she displayed a pattern of “unacceptable behavior.” A report by the integrity commissioner mentioned that the investigation was initiated by a “lengthy complaint” against Robinson submitted by Mayor Ashe.

Robinson disputed the report, claiming in an interview with The Epoch Times that “there were so many things in the report that were untrue.”

In addition to complaints from the mayor, the report highlighted some individual public complaints regarding a commentary by Robinson published in a local newspaper on February 6, 2024.

In the commentary, Robinson questioned the observance of Black History Month in Canada while no other races are formally celebrated. She referred to herself as a “modern-day slave” in the piece.

The integrity commissioner deemed Robinson’s use of the term “slave” as “provocative.”

The report mentioned that Robinson referred to herself as a “slave” due to the sanctions imposed on her for violating the Code of Conduct.

“The language Councilor Robinson selected to describe the sanctions imposed by Council is evidently intended to incite a reaction,” the report stated.

Robinson was also accused of associating with German politician Christine Anderson, allegedly recognized for racist and Islamophobic views, due to her participation in an event where Anderson was also present. Robinson clarified that she merely spoke at the event where Anderson was a speaker.

“While I have spoken at events alongside various politicians, including Ms. Anderson, this does not constitute an association. I have never had her phone number or engaged in private conversations with her outside of public events,” she stated. “These accusations are baseless and misleading.”

Anderson, a member of the European Parliament, rejected accusations of racism in an interview with True North.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.

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