Coun. Josh Matlow to lose 10 days' pay after report says tweets violated code of conduct
CBC
Toronto city council voted on Friday to dock 10 days of pay from Coun. Josh Matlow for comments he made online about two city public servants.
Integrity Commissioner Jonathan Batty, who investigated two complaints made by city staff against Matlow, said his actions violated the code of conduct for members of council. He recommended the docking of pay in a report considered by council on Friday. Matlow may lose up to $5,000 in pay, starting May 1.
"Speaker, these are very serious matters," Batty told city council on Friday.
Matlow, who represents Toronto-St. Paul's, criticized city staff on Twitter last summer. He accused city staff of lying to him in an email about whether all city park bathrooms had been opened, which was a topic of public debate last summer.
Matlow also criticized the appointment of Tracey Cook as interim city manager. When she complained, Matlow engaged in "subsequent reprisal," the report said.
On Friday, he defended his comments and did not issue an apology.
The docking of pay comes after Matlow announced he would run for mayor to replace John Tory following his resignation. Tory resigned after admitting to an "inappropriate relationship" with someone in his office, a woman more than 30 years younger than himself. The integrity commissioner is also looking into that matter.
In the report, the integrity commissioner outlines the behind-the-scenes exchanges between city staff and the mayor's office that led to Matlow receiving erroneous information, but says the councillor's actions upon receiving that information via email violated the code of conduct.
According to the code, councillors must treat city employees appropriately.
The first complaint, made by former city manager Chris Murray, was in regards to a tweet from Matlow on June 16, 2022 that commented on information he received from the general manager of parks, forestry and recreation.
"I don't appreciate being lied to. Nor should you. All park bathrooms were not opened by May 24 this year. That's unquestionably untrue," Matlow tweeted on June 16.
The second complaint was made by then-interim city manager Tracey Cook when Matlow tweeted the mayor and council chose the "very wrong" person to serve as acting city manager on July 19, 2022.
"I refuse to ignore Tracey Cook's decisions to omit facts regarding SmartTrack, and her approach to the violent encampment clearings. I can't support this choice in good conscience," he said in a tweet.
Coun. Jon Burnside claimed the tweets were a form of bullying, saying staff cannot defend themselves publicly because doing so is against city rules.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
CBC's Island Morning is launching a new summer feature, speaking to different tour guides around Prince Edward Island about the tours they give and why you should take them.
As federal dental care expands to cover most uninsured Canadians, providers say some procedures are being bogged down by paperwork and processing delays.
Chad Anderson had travelled 90 minutes from his farm near Cremona, Alta., to bend the premier's ear, but it was starting to look futile.
Canada continues to see an alarming rise in measles cases in 2025.
The City of Toronto is at risk of losing $30 million in federal housing funding after city council voted last month against allowing sixplexes citywide, a key condition of its deal with Ottawa.
Residents of Happy Valley-Goose Bay are experiencing a power outage, after teams witnessed arcing on a piece of equipment, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro spokesperson Jill Pitcher said.
A restored replica of the square-rigged sailing ship that sparked a wave of Scottish immigration to Nova Scotia more than 250 years ago was relaunched Saturday with a mighty splash into Pictou harbour.
Austin Ola-Daniels was making the most of his Saturday morning, browsing the stalls at his local farmer's market in east end Montreal.
Garden Hill Anisininew Nation leaders are calling on all levels of government to help secure hotel rooms for hundreds of wildfire evacuees as a congregate shelter in Winnipeg became crowded on Saturday and northern Manitoba wildfires threatened their homes and the health of those still waiting to get out.
So far this year, 17 tornadoes have touched down in Saskatchewan, according to a Western University-based tornado tracking project — 10 of which hit the province in a single day.
An out of control wildfire just east of Princeton, B.C. has forced dozens of residents to flee their homes and put dozens of others on evacuation alert, as fire crews continue to fight the blaze.
Dozens of community members in Quadeville, Ont., attended a town hall hosted by Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Saturday evening, following a vicious attack on an eight-year-old girl that has shaken the small village.
One person is dead after a house fire in Ajax.