Pickering Council is pushing forward with the sale of its shares in utility company, Elexicon — behind closed doors and without public consent, according to Councillor Lisa Robinson.
There was no council response to her statement to the public issued yesterday.
Robinson claims to be sounding the alarm over what she calls an “undemocratic and dangerous” plan — without public consultation, without a vote, and without transparency.
“We’ve been discussing the future of Elexicon for months now,” said Robinson. “But never out in the open. Always behind closed doors. Always with the same endgame: to sell off a public asset without your consent,” she said.
In a video message released yesterday, Councillor Robinson said Pickering and Ajax are the only two Elexicon shareholders pushing to sell their shares, while Clarington, Whitby, and Belleville are holding onto theirs. “That raises serious questions,” she notes. “Why are we the only ones rushing to offload public assets our partners see long-term value in?”
Alleges Deliberate Obstruction
Robinson said her efforts to raise these concerns have been met with what she describes as deliberate obstruction. On June 23, council held a critical in-camera meeting on the sale of Elexicon shares — but Robinson says she was not sent a link, never contacted despite not sending regrets, and was denied her confidential agenda documents. “That’s the protocol for others — but not for me. At the 7pm meeting that night, I asked for a debriefing. The clerk told me to read about it in the minutes.”
Robinson says she has repeatedly requested a full briefing on what was said and done during the closed session. She says she’s been ignored.
“This isn’t just about procedure. It’s about power. Control over our infrastructure. Long-term stable revenue. Public ownership. All of that is on the line — and they want to give it away for a one-time cash grab, without public input.”
In her message, Robinson outlines the long-term benefits of keeping Pickering’s Elexicon shares, including:
- Steady dividends to fund local services
- Public control over hydro delivery and pricing
- Rising value as the city grows
- A voice in regional energy infrastructure
Councillor Robinson is calling for:
- Full public consultation
- An independent financial analysis
- A binding public referendum
“This is your utility. Your money. Your city. Your future,” she said. “If they’re going to sell what you own, they need your permission.”