A Pickering, ON city councillor faces a 60 day loss of pay for making controversial motions.Lisa Robinson, who represents Ward Two in Pickering, wanted to make a motion to restrict the city flag poles to government flags, maintain an option for women-only changerooms (while maintaining a universal changeroom) at a public facility and prevent Drag Time shows and Pride Events for those under age 18.Robinson could not find anyone on council to second her motion. However, a recent ruling by the city’s integrity commissioner found her attempt and her discussion of them in a speech posted online was homophobic and a breach of human rights legislation.The integrity commissioner suggested a 60-day loss of pay for Robinson, which the Pickering City Council approved. Robinson posted a 15-minute segment of the five-hour meeting on YouTube. Here, integrity commissioner Janice Atwood-Petkovski refused to answer Robinson’s questions. Mayor Kevin Ashe ultimately shut down Robinson’s ability to ask any questions. When the audience protested, the mayor yelled at a member of the public and called the police to remove the public from the hearing.On the video, Robinson posted, “It is disheartening to witness that instead of engaging in constructive dialogue and debate, these council members resorted to defaming my character, spreading misinformation and employing tactics to silence my voice. They have taken my words out of context and distorted their meaning, which is not only dishonest but also undermines the principles of free speech.”Robinson had previously been docked 30 days pay for a Facebook post she made, prompting her to call herself “a modern day slave of the people.”In an email blast, former Conservative MP Derek Sloan called the meeting “an absolute gong-show” and complimented Robinson for “holding her cool during this outrageous meeting, as many others showed the absolute worst behaviour.”“The absolute and total disregard for fairness and justice was on full display Monday evening! If only more citizens watched this proceeding, they would be disgusted!” he wrote.“Our democracy is being stolen from us each passing day. At the same council where they debated Lisa's fate, they were also debating a motion asking the Provincial government to allow them to give stricter punishments to ‘rogue’ councillors like Lisa.""They adopted a motion that would ask for the ability to actually prevent a councillor from finishing their term in office. That's right. If someone does something they don't like, they want to be able to circumvent democracy and shut them out from sitting for the rest of their term.”Sloan said Robinson was only “penalized for actually doing her job” and “bringing forward motions that represent the needs and concerns of her citizens.” He warned the story of this financially-penalized single mother could soon play out in many more communities, not only in Ontario, but across Canada.“This is based off of guidelines recommended by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Looking at all the draconian laws being passed by municipalities across the country (they all copy each other), this will soon be asked for everywhere,” he said.Sloan is taking donations to help Lisa with her legal fight. Those interested can send an e-transfer to fundingthefight@proton.me with the password “Freedom” and “Lisa” in the memo.Read more Oct 6 Politically incorrect ontario councillor seeks judicial reviewSep 17 Pickering city councillor in hot water for stands on sexual minority issues
