Plante Issue Has Roots In Sprung Structure Outcry
At issue was the very important question of housing new refugees in the city. People who were opposed to the refugees being housed in large tents in their midst, organized fierce opposition to it, and who questioned Plante’s sanity in the debate, are now crying about hurt feelings. Imagine that. What’s baffling is that the integrity commissioner is siding with them.
The Citizen’s Mohammed Adam on the integrity question surrounding
Rideau-Vanier Councillor Stephanie Plante
One of the strongest and most respected voices in Ottawa municipal affairs is Citizen freelancer and former colleague Mohammed Adam.
And his take on the Plante issue, the report by integrity commissioner Karen Shepherd that was approved in principle if not in pecuniary fines, is required reading for people interested in the issue of freedom of expression.
Ottawa City Council in its vote on the question chose politics over principle in accepting the commissioner’s findings but not fining the councillor. It was a compromise that came down on the wrong side of human rights. But that kind of doing things by halves might preserve some of the councillors in the next election.
One wonders when this council will address the real issues facing this city rather than plugging Lansdowne and allowing huge overruns in the building of the unnecessary new central library. Everything is politics rather than practicality. Our roads are a mess and the mayor brags on spending much money on them. How effective has that spending been? When will council properly address transit in this city. Let’s stop cutesy naming of snowplows and put more money into plowing snow.
The vote on the integrity commissioner’s report was a dark day in the substandard performance of this mayor and council.
If you care about freedom of expression, Adam’s column is required reading.
Ken Gray
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I read the Integrity Commissioner from top to bottom. Unfortunately some people get their opinions from the opinions of others and not the facts as presented in the report. I read the investigations methods and conclusion and have no problem with the recommendation.
She is a paid representative of her ward and needs to respect others as the policy dictates, and this was evidently not done. The words and images by themselves are out of context and should be only viewed in the entire context of the posts. It is a disservice to discuss this issue out of its full context and will get some people upset.