Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy is pushing back against what she calls a false claim made during the June 23 council meeting, where she said Councillor Chris Leahy alleged that Whitby council is taking a 105-day “holiday” and will not meet again until October 6.
Newstalk 1010 yesterday said Whitby Regional Councillor Chris Leahy joined its Moore in the Morning programme to make the case that he and his fellow elected officials should work more, and not take off the entire summer.
In a statement posted June 24, Mayor Roy said, “This statement is not only factually incorrect—it is a deliberate distortion of the truth and a disservice to our residents.”
She clarified that special council meetings are scheduled for June 26 and again in July, with the regular council meeting cycle resuming in early September. That includes a Planning meeting on September 8, a special council meeting on September 15, and a Committee of the Whole meeting on September 15.
“These dates are public and available on the town’s website,” Roy said.
She emphasized that council recess is not a vacation, but rather a scheduled break from formal meetings that gives council members time to focus on their broader responsibilities.
Scheduled Break from Formal Meetings
“It is a scheduled break from formal meetings that allows council members to focus on constituent work, community events, and the day-to-day responsibilities that come with public office,” she said.
Mayor Roy noted that councillors continue to respond to resident calls and emails, help resolve local issues, advocate for the community, and represent Whitby at key events and meetings.
“Doing the work of our community means being out in our community,” she added.
The mayor also shared that she will continue hosting her “Coffee with Mayor Roy” events over the summer, while maintaining a daily schedule of meetings with town staff, regional and provincial partners, and local stakeholders, as well as attending meetings of Ontario’s Big City Mayors caucus.
She concluded her statement by saying, “Public service is a responsibility built on trust. That trust must be earned and maintained through honesty, transparency, and respect for the people we are elected to serve.”