Matt Gaskell, the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Whitby has released the following statement in response to false allegations and misinformation that was released today by a member of Whitby Town Council:

During the October 7^th Council meeting, Council took a brief recess when Councillor Leahy refused to apologize or leave the meeting after making comments about members of Council which were considered inappropriate. Recessing a meeting when passions are running high to allow time for Members to reflect and regain their composure in Council Chambers is a standard process. 

During this recess, the Town Clerk and I provided the Mayor with advice regarding the Rules of Procedure and the Mayor’s rights under the Municipal Act to uphold decorum during Council meetings. These discussions did not advance business of Council, and no decisions were made. The requirements of the Municipal Act with respect to holding a proper meeting were upheld. To ensure transparency and clarity of the situation, the Town Clerk approached Councillor Leahy prior to the Council meeting resuming to outline the options open to him, including his opportunity to apologize for the comments, leave the meeting, or if neither option was taken, for Council to vote to adjourn.

After the Council Meeting recommenced following the recess, the Mayor once again asked Councillor Leahy if he wanted to apologize or leave, and he declined to do so. At this point, Council considered the option to adjourn in public and through a recorded vote, in which a majority of Members decided to conclude the meeting. The Town takes the Municipal Act and Council procedures very seriously, and we understand these are the foundations on which democracy and good governance rests, and we welcome any review of the events of the evening.

Read more from Mayor Roy's updated statement (October 8, 2024).