The City of Pickering is moving its meeting to a virtual format from January 2025 as the city feels it is under threat of far-right ‘outsiders’.
A 13-minute long video released yesterday [see below] by the city associated such ‘outsiders’ with Councillor Lisa Robinson, who, it says is now not permitted to use her councillor’s budget hold meetings such as the town hall she held in November.
Two years of infiltration of alt-right individuals, ideologies and influences have created an atmosphere of uncertainty, fear and intimidation, said Mayor Keven Ashe in his introduction to the video.
The video said Councillor Robinson has been making baseless and erratic claims about the City f Pickering, the mayor, council and staff. She has been featured on absconder Kevin Johnston’ Rumble video platform, which threatened violence agans the city, mayor, council and staff.
Veiled Threat
On social media, the city video alleged, Councillor Robinson referred to Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot, which the council and staff see as a “veiled threat, or at the very least, a menacing call for violent dissent”.
Councillor Robinson has publicly stated that she does not not condone violence towards Pickering council and staff. The city video states that some of her unhinged supporters may feel differently, while pointing out that an independed integrity comissioner has ruled she violated council code of conduct multiple times.
The video referred to fear-mongering flyers being distributed to Pickering homes. It also alleged that the November town hall meeting, where city staff were excluded, was run by outsiders.
Outsiders at Council Meeting
“Due to security concerns and misuse of public resources, Councillor Robinson is no longer permitted to use her councillor’s budget to hold these types of alt-right meetings,” the city message said.
It claimed that two outsiders were caught filming council meeting, including one attendee from the Rumble video of Johnston and Councillor Robinson.
Due to growing threats of violence, harassment, and intimidation, the city will be undertaking measures to protect the safety, security, and well-being of council, staff, and residents. As a measure, it has decided to move all official meetings to a virtual format starting January 2025.
“Increasing threats to our safety demands action. We will not expose ourselves to further harrassment by these external actors nor allow them to disrupt our work any longer,” said Mayor Ashe in his conclusion.
Residents have been asked to watch the following video, providing context and further details as to why the city is taking these critical safety measures.
Warning: This video contains profanity, which has been bleeped out, and images, clips, and audio that some may find disturbing and offensive – viewer discretion is advised.
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The Pickering Mayor and council are lying to us. They accuse Ms. Robinson of doing what they are doing. Ms. Robinson has exposed them as liars and socialists. A mayor with a superpower authorized by the Province of Ontario is a very dangerous mayor for democracy. I demand that they meet in person so that all citizens can attend. Talk about fear-mongering, Mayor Ash; you’re extremely good at it. But democracy will prevail in the end despite your best efforts.