The Town of Whitby yesterday reported that on September 28, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario dismissed applications brought by councillors Christopher Leahy and Stephen Yamada against the town, Principles Integrity, Mayor Elizabeth Roy, and councillors Rhonda Mulcahy and Niki Lundquist.
The town said in its decision, the tribunal concluded that the applications “have no reasonable prospect of success” because “the events and allegations set out in the applications did not occur within any of the social areas dealt with by the code”.
The tribunal, therefore, dismissed both applications, said the town.
It said prior to the tribunal’s decision, legal counsel for the respondents urged the applicants to drop their applications noting that previous independent investigations had found no evidence of discrimination and that established Human Rights Tribunal jurisprudence indicated the applications fell outside the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Cost To Taxpayers
To date, the town has incurred $53,682 in external legal costs responding to these applications. Reportedly, final costs will be determined once all related administrative and legal matters have been concluded.
Mayor Roy said she was pleased the dismissal. “I’m concerned and disappointed that the town has incurred $53,682 in legal costs to date responding to these applications – even after Councillors Leahy and Yamada were urged to drop their applications because previous investigations had found no evidence of discrimination and because their applications fell outside the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
“This cost is in addition to about $100,000 incurred by the town over this council term, investigating allegations made by these councillors – all of which proved to be unfounded,” she said.
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It is a known fact that Whitby councils are the worst to waste taxpayer money! This nonsense has got to stop! How much more does these people want to squeeze out of residents?? Such shameless people running our town!!!