Emo Mayor Harold McQuaker has been found to have had a pecuniary interest during a June 2020 council meeting.
The township’s Integrity Commissioner made that ruling after looking into a resident’s complaint about McQuaker’s involvement in the discussion about a private culvert installation. The residents sought to have the culvert connected to a municipal one.
McQuaker’s son’s company ended up doing the job and used some equipment from the mayor’s company to do the work.
After his review, Darrell Matson found no reason for penalties or sanctions.
” I conclude that Mayor McQuaker’s pecuniary interest (derived through his son’s company) was sufficiently remote that it did not influence his decision making. Accordingly, the exemption in paragraph 4(k) of the MCIA (Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and it was not necessary for Mayor McQuaker to make declarations of interest and refrain from participation in the matter under Section 5 of the MCIA,” ruled Matson.
In December, Matson issued a report that found the mayor violated conflict of interest laws during another council meeting last summer related to a gravel contract.
Only a minor reprimand was issued.
In this case, Matson says while equipment from the mayor’s company, Harold McQuaker Enterprises, was used, neither the mayor nor his company benefitted financially.
“There was enough information in the witness statements that convinced me that there was no money exchanged between the deputant or the mayor’s sons to the mayor’s company, as in Harold McQuaker Enterprise, or the mayor himself as an individual,” says Matson.
Matson noted no contractor had been hired at the time council was discussing the issue.
The full report can be found here. 2021 Integrity Commissioner Report -File Emo 3-2020
