Fear of divide growing around Ottawa city council table after vote against Mayor Watson

Some Ottawa city councillors are worried that a vote at Wednesday's meeting might just drive a wedge deeper into a divide around the table at city hall.

The percieved 'Watson Club' often gets talked about around city council when Mayor Jim Watson votes one way and a certain number of councillors follow his lead, no matter the issue. But the meeting on Wednesday, June 23, broke that mold.

Barrhaven Ward's Jan Harder was facing allegations of conflict of interest following a report by the city's integrity commissioner, but the long-time public servant denied the allegations, and the mayor followed Harder by suggesting the commissioner's report, and suggested penalties, be set aside.

The mayor was defeated in a vote, 14-9, but some councillors say it's not a sign of things changing on city council, as Harder still had her penalties softened.

“I would hope that maybe it would actually heal this wound somewhat, because we saw some councillors actually go against the mayor who would normally be on his side and maybe we'll see a bit more give and take on this council, but my fear is that we're going to be divided going forward,” Carol-Anne Meehan, councillor for Gloucester-South Nepean, told CityNews Ottawa's The Rob Snow Show, Thursday, June 24.

Meehan believes if it were her on the hot seat for a perceived conflict of interest  or for having leaked a confidential city memo to the media, the outcome at council would not have been the same.

“If it had been me, my pay would be docked and I would be repaying the legal fees, I have no doubt about that,” she says. 

Mayor Jim Watson defended himself following council on Wednesday. 

“Well, we were told that there were perceived breaches in conflict of interest but there were no specific examples of actual conflicts of interests,” he said. “Each member of council is entitled to vote whatever way they want, and I respect their decisions, a lot of it depends on the issue.”

Watson says that the integrity commission submits the recommendations but it's up to council to approve them.

Still, both Meehan and Somerset Ward City Councillor Catherine McKenney say dissent to certain votes at council is not welcomed.

“Its nuanced there's no doubt, it's never blatant, but absolutely you're sidelined, you're punished, you're not invited to events. Sometimes in your own ward, you're not given credit where it's due,” McKenney says. “You deserve an independent, thoughtful government.”

McKenney says having division at the council table is a good thing, it shows residents that their representative is listening and defending them.