Councillor Lisa Robinson – who has a knack for getting embroiled in controversy – has counter-charged Pickering Mayor and other councillors of hypocrisy, when criticized over her appearance on far-right video platform, Rumble.
Pickering Mayor and Council released a statement on Councillor Robinson’s Rumble Video, which said: “We, the Mayor and Members of Pickering City Council, are deeply troubled by Councillor Lisa Robinson’s recent appearance on Kevin J. Johnston’s online show on Rumble, a far-right video content platform. Johnston is a notorious figure who has served time in jail, owes millions of dollars in court-ordered damages to victims of his lies, and is currently a fugitive from Canadian law, having fled to Panama. The platform that hosts the show is itself infamous for promoting hate speech, misinformation, and extremist views, crossing all boundaries of decency and legality.”
Mayor Kevin Ashe and the coucil statement charged that “during the broadcast, the host published the names, pictures, and personal phone numbers of council members, falsely and dangerously labelling us as ‘pedophiles, ‘Nazis’, and ‘Fascists’, explicitly stating that we ‘deserve a baseball bat to the face’; suggesting that a vicious and powerful dog be let loose at city council meetings to attack and maim us; and expressing the need for 70s biker types with big biceps and scarred knuckles to remove us by force. This inflammatory, defamatory, and violent rhetoric is not only reprehensible, but also poses a direct threat to our safety and the safety of our families.”
Lisa distances self from Johnston’s statements
Councillor Robinson distanced herself from Johnston’s statements. “Let’s be clear. I do not condone anything that Mr. Johnston said in a hateful manner or that advocates violence against any of my fellow councillors. I want to make it perfectly clear that I reject and disassociate myself from any such rhetoric. It’s telling, however, that while I stand against these extreme views, the mayor and Pickering City Council seem to have no problem with similar attacks when they’re directed at me. Their selective outrage and double standards only reveal their hypocrisy. They can’t have it both ways—criticizing Mr. Johnston’s comments while tacitly endorsing or ignoring the hateful attacks against me.”
The council statement said Councillor Robinson’s decision to appear on such a show, fully aware of Johnston’s history and the nature of his platform, is irresponsible, unethical, and dangerous – and in clear violation of the Council Code of Conduct.
Integrity Commission
“We will be filing a joint complaint to the Integrity Commissioner for this most recent breach. Despite Johnston’s claim that his views were his own, Councillor Robinson’s participation, and her supportive nodding to Johnston’s comments, is an implied endorsement of the vile and dangerous views expressed during the broadcast. This includes the podcast’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, the host’s vilification of Black Lives Matter, and the broader spread of hate-filled ideologies that have no place in our community.”
Full text of the Mayor & Council’s Statement on Councillor Robinson’s Rumble Video
We, the Mayor and Members of Pickering City Council, are deeply troubled by Councillor Lisa Robinson’s recent appearance on Kevin J. Johnston’s online show on Rumble, a far-right video content platform. Johnston is a notorious figure who has served time in jail, owes millions of dollars in court-ordered damages to victims of his lies, and is currently a fugitive from Canadian law, having fled to Panama. The platform that hosts the show is itself infamous for promoting hate speech, misinformation, and extremist views, crossing all boundaries of decency and legality.
During the broadcast, the host published the names, pictures, and personal phone numbers of Council Members, falsely and dangerously labelling us as “pedophiles”, “Nazis”, and “Fascists”, explicitly stating that we “deserve a baseball bat to the face”; suggesting that a vicious and powerful dog be let loose at City Council meetings to attack and maim us; and expressing the need for 70s biker types with big biceps and scarred knuckles to remove us by force. This inflammatory, defamatory, and violent rhetoric is not only reprehensible, but also poses a direct threat to our safety and the safety of our families.
Councillor Robinson’s decision to appear on such a show, fully aware of Johnston’s history and the nature of his platform, is irresponsible, unethical, and dangerous – and in clear violation of the Council Code of Conduct. We will be filing a joint complaint to the Integrity Commissioner for this most recent breach. Despite Johnston’s claim that his views were his own, Councillor Robinson’s participation, and her supportive nodding to Johnston’s comments, is an implied endorsement of the vile and dangerous views expressed during the broadcast. This includes the podcast’s attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, the host’s vilification of Black Lives Matter, and the broader spread of hate-filled ideologies that have no place in our community.
Throughout the broadcast, the host mocked the physical appearance of Members of Council, made numerous defamatory statements towards multiple individuals, and used increasingly violent language. Instead of refuting or condemning these reprehensible comments, Councillor Robinson often smiled, chuckled, or nodded her head in agreement throughout. Her willingness to align herself with such an individual and imply her support of his dangerous views is very alarming.
This behaviour is particularly disturbing in light of the recent Toronto Star story that detailed Councillor Robinson’s courting of far-right extremists. Despite her public denials, her appearance on this show and her ongoing conduct make it clear that she is aligning herself with ideologies that are diametrically opposed to the values of inclusivity, respect, and dignity that we uphold in Pickering.
Councillor Robinson claims she is merely ‘giving a voice’ to her constituents. We know this is not true. We listen to our residents, and we know that the overwhelming majority oppose her views. Instead of listening to her constituents, we feel Councillor Robinson is exploiting these extreme views in a blatant effort to boost her public profile. Many of her constituents have denounced her actions, yet she refuses to consider or accept their perspectives, choosing instead to endorse dangerous and divisive far-right rhetoric.
Since her election to office, Councillor Robinson has opposed Pride events, denounced Black History Month, questioned the integrity of Durham Regional Police, and fostered division within our city. These actions have not only disrupted the business of our municipality, but have also created an environment of fear and intimidation, which has been intensified by her participation in this podcast. Over the past year, we have all received volatile and hateful emails and messages from Councillor Robinson’s supporters. Collectively, we have received threats of violence, ranging from assault to even death.
We are concerned that Councillor Robinson’s appearance on this extremist’s show will only incite more violent attitudes and behaviours. In addition to our personal safety and well-being, we are also concerned about our families, city staff, and various members of our community who have been undeservedly and irresponsibly called out in this video.
It is also important to note that Councillor Robinson has previously been found in violation of the City’s Code of Conduct by the Integrity Commissioner. As a consequence, her council pay was docked in an effort to punish and deter such unethical behaviour. However, she has been actively soliciting donations and funding from far-right sources, as demonstrated by her appearance on platforms like Rumble. In this video, she admits to receiving funding from her ideological supporters, but there is no accounting or disclosure of the monies she is receiving. We are deeply concerned that her acceptance of these funds makes her even more vulnerable to extreme and dangerous influences that could be originating from the U.S. and other jurisdictions outside of Canada.
This situation highlights a fundamental flaw under the Municipal Act. A sitting member of municipal council should not be able to freely solicit and accept money without transparency or accountability. This lack of oversight could potentially invite influence peddling, bribery, and corruption. As Councillor Robinson continues to receive this funding without any disclosure or accountability, we believe the Government of Ontario should take immediate action to close this glaring loophole and amend the Municipal Act to allow for stricter sanctions beyond suspension of pay. We will be issuing a formal request to Premier Doug Ford and MPP Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Kevin Ashe, Mayor
Maurice Brenner, Regional Councillor, Ward 1
Linda Cook, Regional Councillor, Ward 2
David Pickles, Regional Councillor, Ward 3
Mara Nagy, City Councillor, Ward 2
Shaheen Butt, City Councillor, Ward 3
Full text of Councillor Lisa Robinson’s response to Durham Post
Let’s be clear. I do not condone anything that Mr. Johnston said in a hateful manner or that advocates violence against any of my fellow councillors. I want to make it perfectly clear that I reject and disassociate myself from any such rhetoric. It’s telling, however, that while I stand against these extreme views, the Mayor and Pickering City Council seem to have no problem with similar attacks when they’re directed at me. Their selective outrage and double standards only reveal their hypocrisy. They can’t have it both ways—criticizing Mr. Johnston’s comments while tacitly endorsing or ignoring the hateful attacks against me.
Councillor Brenner has said violent, hateful things to me such as he could stick a knife in my back slowly twist it, and that I wouldn’t know it was there until he was getting ready to pull it out, There is also a video where Brenner has been caught on tape in a remark towards the Mayor saying that he “ would like to sharpen his sword and decapitate the m*f*. The mayor and council have heard this recording, and I have told them of the sexual, psychological, and workplace violence I have gone through, and crickets. Why? Because I refuse to play their game of deceit, and corruptions and instead speak the truth.
Here’s the real issue: this council is squirming because they’re getting a taste of their own medicine. They’ve been busy labeling anyone who dares to question their agenda as extremist, racists, nazis or worse. Now, when someone else throws similar accusations their way, they cry foul. It’s the height of hypocrisy. The council’s attempts to deflect Mr. Johnstons actions on me, is laughable, especially considering their own history of name-calling and vicious attacks on anyone who opposes their narrative. A council member wants to stab me in the back and decapitate the mayor.
Mayor Ashe and the council members are outraged that their personal information was published, which I had nothing to do with, (but can easily be found on social media), but let’s not forget their own role in this mess. They’ve been more than happy to throw around harsh labels like “pedophiles”, “Nazis” and “fascists” against their critics, and now they’re acting all high and mighty because the same treatment is being directed at them? Spare us the theatrics. If they want to dish out insults and divisive rhetoric, to the people of Pickering and Durham, they shouldn’t be surprised when it comes back to bite them. Karma.
Furthermore, let’s address their whining about being mocked for their appearance. It’s a classic case of “don’t dish it out if you can’t take it”. This council has a history of indulging in petty, personal attacks against anyone who disagrees with them. Now that the tables are turned, they want to play the victim. Their complaints about mocking are nothing more than a smokescreen to distract from their own egregious behavior.
And let’s not ignore the broader issue: the council is desperately trying to suppress any dissent or criticism that challenges their agenda. They’re trying to paint anyone who opposes their policies as right-wing extremists or hate groups, all while pushing their own divisive and authoritarian policies. It’s a blatant attempt to silence opposition and stifle genuine debate. They have participated in numerous draconian bylaws over the past 6 months or so to stop public engagement and participation in council meetings of those with opposing views.
The mayor and council’s outcry is nothing more than a desperate, hypocritical attempt to cling to power and protect their increasingly indefensible actions. Their efforts to discredit anyone who speaks out against them only further reveal their true colors. It’s time to call out this charade for what it is and recognize their hypocrisy for what it truly is: a calculated effort to maintain control by any means necessary.
My time on council I have been fighting against their attempts to segregate people into groups by the colour of their skin, religious beliefs, or their sexual preferences. I have been fighting the government to remain neutral and not place special interest groups above others, and I have been fighting for every man, woman, boy, and girl to have the right to choose between using their biological bathroom or choosing a universal changeroom inclusive of all genders or families. And that age restrictions should be placed on pride events and drag queen storytime.
Because of my views and the majority of residents in Pickering and beyond who support this, I am being targeted by my own council and the Corporation of the City of Pickering, to silence me by any means necessary.
For over the last year, I have been unrelenting in exposing the corruption, coercion, and perceived bribery happening within the Corporation of the City of Pickering. My fellow councillors are terrified of the truth coming to light, and they are desperately trying to silence my dissenting voice by any means necessary. They will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power and keep their unethical practices hidden from the public.
Councillor Lisa Robinson
re: Controversial councillor counters over Rumble appearance
Ms. Robinson is my local 1 councillor and quite honestly she DOES NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY VIEWS OF HER CONSTITUENCY NOR PICKERING. Notwithstanding that many Pickering residents may have issues with how current council members conduct business or themselves…having this additional thorn in our sides doesn’t help with proper governance of our City and more importantly dealing with important business at hand including keeping our taxes low especially for seniors. If council has to spend our hard earned money to get extra security and defending themselves against Ms. Robinson’s vitriol how is that helping the community?? As a 48-year resident of Pickering all I can say is “Ms. Robinson stick to the duties of a local councillor instead of putting yourself out there for no other reason than your self-interests”. TRUST ME…MOST OF US CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION TO OUST YOU..IF THE PROVINCE DOESN’T DO IT BEFORE THEN. My taxes are so high that I can’t seem to understand why or how your bantering about nothing that concerns most of us helps to relieve the everyday stress that most of us feel. Lastly, if you don’t want to be a role model and govern with integrity..please step aside and leave it for a real service oriented person to take over.
in my opinion, this post has been used to bully Ward 1 Councillor Lisa Robinson She has exposed the WEF puppets at the local level. Anne Ray, “keep our taxes low,” really? That is a whole other post.