Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 17 Sep 2015, p. 23

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Town council to decide if complaint is to be investigated continued from p.1 Town council will vote on whether to pass on Brennan's request for an inquiry to the integrity commissioner during Monday's (Sept. 21) council meeting. Brennan argued Burton's Twitter statements are an example of partisan behaviour, which he feels is contrary to the interests of the town. "This is something that I have been saying for the past 19 months. This has nothing to do with my bid to be mayor. This has everything to do with these partisan tweets and comments... that really are not part of his job," said Brennan. "I was just shocked, along with thousands of other people, and as a concerned citizen, I decided this really needs to be investigated by the integrity commissioner." The tweet, which attracted the most attention and for which Burton has apologized, was made Aug. 28 in response to a Canadian Press article about former members of the Canadian Forces being hired as security guards at Stephen Harper's campaign events in addition to the RCMP officers. "Any political parties had private police using veterans before?" Burton tweeted, along with links to Wikipedia pages on Hitler's Brownshirts and Mussolini's Blackshirts. "Any others?" The tweet prompted a Twitter response from Canada's Defense Minister Jason Kenney, who characterized the remarks as outrageous and called on Burton to apologize. Burton made an apology on Twitter on Aug. 29. "I apologize to all vets for my remarks. I regret any impact on their feelings or pride," he wrote. "I celebrate the way they went to fight for freedom." Brennan called Burton's apology "immaterial," and argued an integrity commissioner inquiry is needed because, in his view, the mayor is using his office to support one political party of Canada over another. "My complaint is about him being partisan and that he should stick to fixing the roads and upgrading the sewer system and keeping taxes low and disengage from these partisan activities," said Brennan. "That's what this is really about." When asked to respond to the allegations in Brennan's complaint to considerate: Encourage informed, respectful dialogue not personal attacks. Don't criticize residents or fellow employees on social media." It also features the warning "Think twice before posting: Never post anything you wouldn't want repeated to your boss or to appear in the paper. Privacy does not exist in social media. Once material is posted, it can never be fully removed. Consider what might happen if a post becomes widely distributed." Brennan also pointed to several sections of the Code of Conduct for Council Members, which he claims were violated. These included statements in the code that every member shall "avoid conflicts of interest both real or perceived," "impartially perform his or her duties exercising care, diligence and skill," "seek to advance the common good of the Town of Oakville," and, "conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring the town's reputation into disrepute." Brennan's complaint to the integrity commission stated: "Mayor Rob Burton has violated every Social Media Guideline listed above with his Twitter tweets and comments. Mayor Rob Burton has violated every Code of Conduct policy procedure listed above with his Twitter tweets and comments." Brennan also lashed out at Town council, stating there has been no call for any investigation or consequential disciplinary action in relation to what Brennan claims "appears to be a nation-wide embarrassment against our beloved town." Oakville Town Clerk Vicki Tytaneck confirmed no other requests for an integrity commissioner inquiry have been filed. Tytaneck said it's up to a council vote to send Brennan's complaint to the integrity commissioner. Should any violation be found to have occurred in relation to the Town's Code of Conduct for Council Members or the Town's Social Media Guidelines, penalty could include a suspension of pay or some kind of reprimand. It would be council's responsibility to impose any such penalties. Removal from office is not among the penalties. Brennan said he takes issue with Town council screening the complaint, stating the matter should go directly to the integrity commissioner. 23 | Thursday, September 17, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Gord Brennan the integrity commissioner, Burton stated in an email: "There is a process in place to deal with this matter and I respect that process." 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