Mayor Holder officially files complaint to integrity commissioner against Michael van Holst

London, Ont. Mayor Ed Holder has made good on his vow to file a complaint against Ward 1 Coun. Michael van Holst, who attended an anti-vaccine rally on Saturday. 

Holder confirmed in a statement that the complaint went to Integrity Commissioner Greg Stewart on Tuesday. 

"I take no delight in pursuing this course of action," Holder said. "However, I believe fundamentally that our responsibilities as elected officials are paramount, along with the Code of Conduct for Members of Council to which we've all sworn to adhere." 

He said the decision was made after "significant deliberation, and not without some measure of regret." 

Van Holst attended the rally at Victoria Park in downtown London on Oct. 16, where hundreds expressed opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and rules requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination at businesses and public buildings. 

In his comments on Oct. 18, Holder said many in attendance were not from London, and called the rally organizers "knuckle draggers."

In his Tuesday statement, Holder said that van Holst defied and undermined council policy, with respect to proof of COVID-19 vaccination. 

Holder did not disclose the text of his complaint to CBC News. It's not clear if the complaint against van Holst is related to council's vaccination policy bylaw, which says all councillors and the mayor must provide proof of at least a single vaccination by Wednesday. Alternatively, they must provide a medical reason why they can't or an exemption under the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

Jim Kogelheide, former mayoral candidate from 2014, said he also contacted the integrity commissioner and called for van Holst's immediate resignation after learning he attended the rally. 

Kogelheide said this is the third complaint he has filed in the past year against van Holst, following previous social media postings from the councillor promoting misinformation around COVID-19.  

"I found that very disconcerting that a public figure whose job is to be the voice for the constituents within his ward, as well as a voice for residents of London to ensure that people are following safe and healthy ... protocols so that we can flatten the curve, we can save more lives, is actively participating in spreading misinformation and fear within the community," said Kogelheide. 

Van Holst recently launched his own creed, which he calls the "Order of Freedom." Vaccine mandates, passports and proof of status policies are not "compatible" with those who hold the creed's beliefs.