Stevenson pushes for changes to Integrity Commissioner investigations citing ‘weaponization’

Coun. Susan Stevenson in Council Chambers in December 2024 during a debate about an Integrity Commissioner Report (Daryl Newcombe/CTV News London)

London Coun. Susan Stevenson is voicing changes she would like to see the provincial government make to Municipal Code of Conduct complaints and subsequent investigations by the Integrity Commissioner.

Previous social media posts made by Stevenson about the homelessness crisis have twice resulted in Integrity Commissioner reports that concluded she violated Council’s Code of Conduct.

On Sunday, Stevenson sent a six-page written submission to the provincial government’s Committee on Bill 9, Municipal Accountability Act (2025).

Her letter claims the flurry of complaints and multiple investigations had consequences that went beyond being formally reprimanded and docked a month’s pay, “The elected voices of many residents were diminished and devalued by a taxpayer funded system that disrespected democracy at great financial expense, and diminished community trust.”

On Wednesday she told CTV News, “I have not found this to be an easy process this last couple of years, and I can’t say that it hasn’t strained relationships when colleagues find me guilty of bullying, harassment and targeting basically without evidence and without processes being followed.”

In a related social media post on Wednesday she called for changes to filing Code of Conduct complaints to “ensure that elected representatives of the public are free to work on their behalf - without incivility, the weaponization of the Integrity Commissioner process, segregation or bullying.”

“They’re using these processes to help silence the elected representative of the people,” Stevenson claims.

She goes on to clarify her statement explaining that “they” are some of the people who have filed complaints against her, “It’s been the social service agencies and those who work in that realm, and city staff as well.”

In 2023, Stevenson received a formal reprimand from Council for a social media post that included a picture of a recognizable homeless individual and an unsubstantiated claims of criminality.

In 2024, council voted 8-6 in favour of suspending her pay for one month after the former Integrity Commissioner determined she harassed and bullied a deputy city manager with persistent questioning about homelessness and an associated social media post.

Stevenson filed two complaints with the Ontario Ombudsman about the former Integrity Commissioner’s investigations and findings.

“As of a couple of weeks ago, the Ombudsman’s office was reaching out to me for clarification and they both assured me (the complaints) are both actively under investigation right now,” she says.

Stevenson adds that she has connected with other councillors from across Ontario expressing similar concerns that complaints, investigations, and sanctions are being used to intimidate and silence politicians.

“This is not about sour grapes,” she says. “This is about how we proactively address the issues that have arisen during this term of council in a way that will help us to be more trusted by the community in the future.”

Stevenson’s submission to the Committee on Bill 9 includes several recommendations:

• Ensure that legislation protects a Councillor’s ability to fulfill their obligation to represent and make decisions on behalf of their constituents
• Require confidentiality by both the complainants and the Councillor until investigations are complete, verified and before Council
• Where harm to safety and well-being is claimed, the evidence provided should be objective and reasonable in the circumstances
• Where harassment involves city staff, a requirement that city leadership take a role in this process (pre and post Integrity Commissioner)
• Training of Integrity Commissioners and Councillors should include awareness of the backlash effect and other examples of discrimination
• Ensure respect for diversity of opinion is upheld