Barrhaven’s Jan Harder denies conflict of interest after integrity report, resigns from planning committee

Barrhaven Ward City Councillor Jan Harder is denying all allegations of conflict of interest made in a report from Ottawa's integrity commissioner, but is vacating her seat as chair of the city's planning committee.

The commissioner launched an investigation into a citizen complaint about a perceived conflict of interest involving Harder's longtime friend and mentor, Jack Stirling.

Harder recruited Stirling's daughter to be her assistant, then hired Stirling's company to advise on planning issues. Meanwhile, Stirling's company was involved in two files that came before the planning committee during the city councillor's time as chair.

“There was no violation in hiring practices, no violation of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and no evidence of any conflict of interest,” said Harder at a meeting of Ottawa city council, Wednesday, June 23.

Friday's commissioner's report recommended Harder be removed from her position on the planning committee, but the councillor said that's not why she's stepping down.

“The hyper-aggressive online attacks and libel directed at me, and others, since Friday, threatens to curtail the city building work that must continue at planning committee.”

Harder went on to call the commissioner's report “political.”

“This vocal group of opponents seem to be against the transformational development we have been seeing in this city,” said the Barrhaven representative. “I maintain that the only finding this politically-driven report has shown is that city policies on hiring need to be revisited and updated.”

A motion to reprimand Harder was passed by a vote of 14-9.