Grimsby councillor claims sexual harassment following comment

A Grimsby councillor believes a remark made towards him at a committee of the entire assembly constitutes sexual harassment.

Following an argument on the Wednesday, Jan. 19 committee of the entire assembly, Coun. Lianne Vardy claimed Coun. Kevin Ritchie wasn’t being well mannered, and mentioned if he was her son, she’d “smack his backside.”

Ritchie introduced up the problem at a council assembly held Friday, Jan. 21 that had been rescheduled twice because of the Jan. 17 snowstorm and once more after the Jan. 19 committee assembly ran late. Ritchie mentioned he was “feeling slightly disturbed” after the Wednesday assembly however didn’t wish to let the remark go unaddressed.

“But when it’s not addressed tonight, I really feel that I might be agreeing with this type of behaviour. A sure councillor made feedback with reference to spanking, which had been directed at me, and I really feel it constitutes slightly sexual harassment,” Ritchie mentioned at Jan. 21 assembly.

“These actions and phrases had been very inappropriate, and actions needs to be taken to make sure this type of behaviour doesn’t occur sooner or later as it's unacceptable. Something much less might be taken as an indication of supporting this inappropriate behaviour.”

The argument in query was a few draft bylaw that may appoint Rutherford Prosecutions because the city’s Listening to Officer, with respect to the Administrative Financial Penalty System (AMPS) for each parking and non-parking associated offences.

They had been about to maneuver ahead with a movement, however Ritchie needed to talk.

He claimed the movement didn’t have a seconder but, and the mayor disagreed.

“You wish to return within the tape and look?” Ritchie mentioned.

That’s when Vardy chimed in with some extent of order. She mentioned, “can we attempt to be well mannered right here?” To which Ritchie argued that he was being well mannered.

“No, your tone just isn't well mannered, and should you had been my son I’d smack your backside,” she mentioned.

In response to the sexual harassment allegation, Vardy apologized.

“I wish to announce that on the final assembly I made an inappropriate comment to one in every of my colleagues, and I’d prefer to apologize,” she mentioned. “I'm deeply sorry if any councillor would ever suppose that.”

In an electronic mail to Niagara this Week, Vardy mentioned her remark was made out of full and utter exasperation.

“This isn't the primary time I've witnessed or been subjected to uncalled for interruptions and aggressive behaviour,” she mentioned. “I take delight in how respectful my (now grown) youngsters are and the way I proceed to anticipate them to be. So I assume the mom in me reacted. That councillor Ritchie would interpret this as something apart from an admonishment is past me. Whereas he's proper in calling me out for the comment, to name it sexual harassment is incredulous and meant to sensationalize the incident.”

In a followup electronic mail to Niagara this Week, Ritchie mentioned he was upset within the lack of motion of the mayor, and mentioned his inaction could also be perceived as supporting.

“I wish to state that as a person, and as a mum or dad to 2 younger females, harassment of any sort and particularly sexual harassment is unacceptable in in the present day's world,” Ritchie mentioned.

When requested if he can be searching for additional motion, Ritchie mentioned he'll sit down along with his household and totally talk about how they wish to deal with this example.

“I felt her apology was solely a response to my feedback and never honest,” he mentioned.