Amherstburg Committee Member Steps Down Following Alleged Foul Language Incident
An Amherstburg committee member has resigned from his position after allegations surfaced that he used highly offensive language to describe a senior female town employee during a public event. The resignation came just days before town council was scheduled to review an integrity commissioner's report on the matter during their regular Monday evening meeting.
Integrity Commissioner's Investigation and Findings
The town's integrity commissioner, Janice Atwood of Principles Integrity, presented an 11-page report that detailed the incident which occurred on October 9, 2025. According to the report, the committee member allegedly referred to the town's chief administrative officer as a "f...ing b...h" while in discussion with another town employee at the Libro Centre during a public event.
The report noted that the individual's voice escalated during the exchange, and he became visibly agitated while expressing dissatisfaction with the CAO. He accused her of secrecy and alleged she had refused to answer questions about municipal projects, likening her handling of information to "holding A-bomb secrets."
Atwood stated that because the respondent had already stepped down from the licensing committee effective February 17, it removed council's obligation to revoke the appointment. However, she emphasized that had he not resigned, she would have recommended his removal from the committee.
Council Debate and Tensions
The report, which cost the town approximately $5,000 to produce, sparked considerable debate among council members during Monday's meeting. Neither the person who allegedly made the comment nor the individual it was directed toward was named in the official report.
Councillor Peter Courtney questioned whether parts of the report went beyond the scope of the specific incident, particularly referencing details about the individual's participation in a community taxpayer group. "We as a council passed it on to you to make a decision on what you thought would be the best course of action for discipline," Courtney stated. "You did that, and then you dove a whole lot deeper ... I just think it's very far-reaching."
Tensions flared during the meeting when members of the public sought to address council about the report. Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue had to warn the gallery that if they continued to "disrupt" the proceedings, he would be forced to ask them to leave.
Divergent Council Opinions and Final Decision
Councillor Diane Pouget called the report a "witch hunt," arguing that previous removals of staff or committee members were typically discussed behind closed doors. A motion by Pouget to allow delegations to speak about the report failed after it was not seconded by another council member.
Atwood countered this perspective, explaining that "it can't be dealt with in a closed meeting. It's not simply an administrative member or staff ... it's a member who's been appointed, a citizen appointee to a local board. This investigation was really focused on what occurred on Oct. 9."
Ultimately, a motion by Councillor Donald McArthur to receive and affirm the report, formally denounce the committee member's conduct, and accept the resignation passed with a 5-2 vote. "People know how I feel about this but I think that this report speaks for itself," McArthur stated. "I think it's incumbent upon this council to let the community know that we heard it and that we take it seriously and that we're acting on the recommendations."
The incident highlights ongoing challenges municipalities face in maintaining professional conduct standards among appointed committee members while balancing transparency with procedural fairness in disciplinary matters.
