No sanctions for Fort Frances Councillor Doug Judson for referring to an anonymous author of a newspaper letter from Flinders Place, a seniors’ apartment complex, as a “White Senior Citizen.”
Judson made the comments on social media after a series of letters appeared last fall during the early discussion of changing the name of Colonization Road.
In a lengthy report, the town’s Integrity Commissioner ruled Judson breached the municipal Code of Conduct in doing so and recommended he make a public apology.
The Commissioner presented his findings to town council at their meeting last night.
Darrell Matson spent the first hour reading the report with almost another hour spent on Judson’s lawyer and members of council posing questions about the process.
Matson made three recommendations; council accept the report, the report be made public and the apology. Council voted 5-1 to accept the report only.
Judson did not vote, having declared a conflict of interest.
Councillor Andrew Hallikas felt the Commissioner didn’t make a strong enough case.
“I did not construe Councillor Judson’s substitution of a Flinders Place resident and substituting a white senior citizen as being discriminatory to all white senior citizens, and nor did I feel he was implying something derogatory,” says Hallikas.
Hallikas was more critical of a letter from Judson’s lawyer that threatened legal action if council accepted the Commissioner’s recommendation.
Councillor Rick Weidenhoeft also rejected the idea of Judson’s making apologize.
“Not because I think that it is wrong but because I am of the opinion that Councillor Judson will not issue a public apology. Therefore trying to enforce this recommendation will be a waste of our time and the people’s money,” says Weidenhoeft.
Councillor Wendy Brunetta felt the violation was a minor one that didn’t warrant sanctions.
Only Councillor Mike Behan felt an apology was still warranted.
“Just because council may not necessarily be able to enforce compliance with the sanction is not a valid reason not to impose one.
Mayor June Caul did not comment on the matter.
Judson initially wanted her to recuse herself because of litigation he and the mayor are involved in on a separate matter.
