Ottawa City Council formally calling on Chiarelli to resign after second integrity report
Posted Nov 25, 2020 07:35:00 PM.
College Ward City Councillor Rick Chiarelli is being further sanctioned after a second report from Ottawa's Integrity Commissioner regarding inappropriate workplace behaviour toward two more of his staff members.
The councillor will have his pay suspended another 180 days, on top of the 270-day suspension he already received following the first report, and his civic duties further restricted. A motion also passed at Wednesday's city council meeting, calling for Chiarelli to resign from his position on council, effective immediately.
Here is a copy of my statement that I shared with @ottawacity council today regarding the Integrity Commissioner's Report on the inappropriate conduct of Rick Chiarelli @RickChiarelli. @OttNewsNetwork @ctvottawa @CBCOttawa pic.twitter.com/iZ84w5doJ0
— Theresa Kavanagh (@tm_kavanagh) November 25, 2020
Before presenting a motion calling on the councillor's salary be donated to a non-profit that addresses violence against women, Kanata North Councillor Jenna Sudds spoke up.
“[Chiarelli's] actions, as detailed in the report and the very lengthy appendix, are enough to turn one's stomach. It is appalling. No woman ever, and I repeat — ever, should have to deal with this behaviour.”
Mayor Jim Watson also formally apologized for the College Ward's behaviour in council.
“This should not have happened, and that we have listened and heard you. And we are also learning from these events. We're committed, not only to an open dialogue, but we are working tirelessly toward ensuring protections are in place, to protect all workers at the City of Ottawa.”
“We must discuss these issues openly and be brave enough to reflect on what needs to change to prevent this from ever happening again,” added the mayor. “And we must sit in our own discomfort about these events.”
Chiarelli, meanwhile, continues to deny all allegations against him, and says he will be refraining from commenting on the situation until a hearing, which is set for January 13, 2021.
