Court boots northern Ontario politician from town council
An Ontario court has removed Maureen Van Alstine from town council in Espanola, west of Sudbury.
The Ontario Superior Court decision was spurred by court filing by the community's integrity commissioner, Robert Swayze.
The court said Van Alstine violated section 5 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, which covers conflict of interest for local councils.
"The respondent’s seat on the municipal council of the Corporation of the Town of Espanola is declared vacant," the court ruled.
Her removal from council caps a multi-year drama that saw Van Alstine sanctioned by Swayze, only to have the discipline he recommended rejected by council.
Trouble began at the Feb. 11, 2020, meeting of council when she proposed a motion that would publicly reprimand the town's CAO – a clear violation of the Act.
Reacting to a complaint, Swayze ruled Van Alstine violated the Municipal Act by publicly denigrating staff on more than one occasion and recommended she be suspended without pay for 90 days.
But when that recommendation came to a vote, Van Alstine didn't declare a conflict of interest – as she was required to do under the act – and voted against the recommendations.
Section 5 of the Municipal Act says any councillor with a conflict of interest on an issue is not allowed to vote on motions related to that issue.
Swayze again ruled she violated the Act, and a motion to have Van Alstine resign came to town council in March 2021. But it was defeated by a 3-3 vote (tied votes are considered defeated under meeting rules.)
Swayze then applied to the Superior Court to have her removed and the seat declared vacant. The court did just that in a decision dated May 16.
"This ruling stems from an application submitted to the court by the Town of Espanola Integrity Commissioner as relates to violations of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act by Van Alstine," the decision said.
"Council will be deliberating on a preferred process for filling this vacancy pursuant to section 263 of the Municipal Act at its next regular meeting."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.