The second code of conduct complaint against North Bay City Councillor Sara Inch to be investigated by the Integrity Commissioner's office in recent months has cost the City of North Bay nearly $4,000, according to a staff report.
In October 2023, Coun. Inch received a unanimous penalty from her colleagues — a loss of remuneration for 90 days — for multiple breaches of the municipality's code of conduct after a special integrity commissioner's report ruled Inch harassed Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield via email and social media posts.
The first investigation's cost was pegged at more than $36,000. In 2023, the two IC investigations cost taxpayers some $40,000 combined from the City of North Bay's $75,000 annual budget.
This second time around, Inch has been cleared.
After investigating Canadore College CEO George Burton's complaint that Inch had again breached the municipal code of conduct by posting unfavourable online messages regarding Canadore, City of North Bay Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno's conclusion is the code was not contravened and his solution is social media training for local politicians.
Giorno's recommendation, given in his Integrity Commisioner's report, is for "Council to request collective training in social media, with particular emphasis on relevant City policies and the Code of Conduct. Based on the experience of this inquiry, I recommend that the training be integrated with a discussion of how various social media platforms work so that Council Members can apply the rules (the Code and applicable policy) to their actual social media usage."
In Giorno's conclusion, he again raises the issue of social media use by politicians. "The inquiry has led me to conclude that there may exist confusion about the use of social media platforms. For example, in this specific case, the distinction between Facebook profiles (which are only personal, except in professional mode) and Facebook pages (which businesses, celebrities, public officials and others may use to connect with people) may not have been entirely clear.
"The Instagram post and a Facebook post at issue in the inquiry were shared (by someone other than the Councillor) to a public group of approximately 2.5K members. In my view, Council Members might benefit from a clear understanding of the settings available on different platforms, such as privacy options and options to restrict sharing."
In September 2023, Burton filed the complaint with Giorno's office over Instagram and Facebook posts made by Inch that referred to a "toxic workplace at Canadore," and another regarding the plight of international students during the housing crisis in September 2023. The following post was then shared in at least one local political Facebook group:
"There’s a pattern here in town around some boards. Can you spot the common denominator?
I’m hearing about the ongoing toxic workplace at Canadore, and how some staff have been treated bc they dared speak out. Given how they treat their own staff, their treatment of international students makes sense.
What’s gone on is/was shameful. People deserve better from their leadership. The students deserve better. Our community is full of folks who know better, the people I personally know on this board are better than this.
Can you imagine a doctor who decided to ignore his patient’s tumors? Or Police officers who didn’t respond to calls bc of personal relationships?
Asking the board members to show some courage here and fire someone. It is your LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY to ACT. If that doesn’t compel you, do it for your own integrity. Find a way folks."
Giorno's report states the complaint "alleges that the written comments of the Respondent were malicious, non-factual, bullying, irresponsible, and reprehensible and that they are responsible for a public backlash that is detrimental to the reputation of the Complainant and of Canadore College.
"The inquiry has not been based on the adjectives used in the Complaint. Instead, the inquiry has been based on the language of Article VIII of the Code. Article VIII states generally that a Member must treat members of the public appropriately and without abuse, bullying or intimidation. In my view, the posts did not, on their face, show 'abuse, bullying or intimidation.'”
BayToday made efforts to contact both Inch and Burton for comment. Inch preferred to review the report before commenting, while Burton did not respond.
Giorno concludes, "While I have found no contravention of the Code, this is not an endorsement of the posts. City Councillors individually are free to disagree or agree with the posts, and to communicate their views according to their judgment. City Council collectively may wish to take steps arising from the circumstances that underlie this report.
"I repeat that the claim of workplace toxicity at the College was based on allegations in old news media reports. There was no basis to claim, in September 2023, that the situation was 'ongoing.'
"Further, the finding that the Code was not contravened is not an endorsement of a public call for the firing of the CEO (or any senior leader) of a provincial government agency located within the City. It remains open to City Council, if it desires, formally to distance itself from that communication. I express no opinion on whether Council should do so, and I make no recommendation on the subject. I simply note that this is an available option, should Council wish to pursue it."
