OPP investigating ‘criminal allegations’ from divided Ontario council

In a statement Thursday, OPP said it was conducting an investigation into allegations made by Pickering City Council.

Ontario Provincial Police say they are conducting an investigation into “criminal allegations” raised by a city where one councillor appeared on an online show where the host referred to her colleagues as “pedophiles.”

In a statement Thursday, OPP said it was conducting an investigation into allegations made by Pickering City Council.

The request was originally made on Nov. 15 to Durham Regional Police, which forwarded it to the provincial force.

“The investigation is currently being led by the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch,” OPP said.

For almost two years, Pickering council has been divided over Coun. Lisa Robinson, who the mayor and other councillors have accused of alt-right associations and disrupting meetings.

Robinson has been found to have violated the code of conduct several times by the integrity commissioner and docked months of pay by her colleagues. She has challenged those findings through a judicial review.

After Robinson appeared on an online show where the host referred to councillors as “pedophiles” and “nazis” and shared their contact details, Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe said the integrity commissioner had determined “that he believes there was a criminal act, which was criminal harassment.”

“And Coun. Robinsons’ attendance in that performance, may be aiding or recklessly aware of criminal harassment to her colleagues,” he said.