Court dismisses $450K lawsuit launched by embattled Sudbury city councillor

Greater Sudbury Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc’s $450,000 lawsuit against the city and resident Anastasia Rioux was dismissed Friday.

On Friday, a Sudbury court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc seeking $450,000 and an end to legal action being taken against him.

Leduc sued Greater Sudbury and Ward 11 resident Anastasia Rioux, claiming “defendant Rioux’s actions and statement, as well as the city’s handling of the proceedings through its committee, have gone beyond legitimate political discourse and criticism, amounting to malicious and coordinated attempt to damage Mr. Leduc’s reputation and political career.”

Leduc made the claims in an attempt to stop legal proceedings against him in connection with his campaign spending in the October 2022 municipal election.

Rioux complained to the city’s election compliance audit committee that Leduc used a municipal event known as Grandparents’ Day in September 2022 as a campaign event, without reporting it as a campaign expense.

KPMG audit

The committee asked KMPG to audit Leduc’s campaign finances, and the KPMG audit concluded Leduc appeared to have violated campaign spending rules.

As a result, the committee recommended that legal action be initiated against Leduc for apparent violations of the Municipal Elections Act. If convicted, penalties could include forcing Leduc to give up his seat at city council.

Leduc filed his lawsuit in August 2024, claiming Rioux had harmed his reputation and accused the audit committee of “deliberately engag(ing) in unlawful conduct in the exercise of their public functions.”

In response, the city said in its statement of defence that Leduc’s suit was without merit and should be dismissed. On Friday, a Superior Court judge agreed.

In a statement, the city said the court has directed both parties to “submit written arguments regarding legal costs.”

“These submissions are due in September,” the statement said.

“As the claim was filed against the election compliance audit committee, the committee will meet to determine next steps.”

The committee’s next meeting is July 30 at 9:30 a.m. at Tom Davies Square.

Reached on Friday evening, Leduc said he had no comment on the decision.

--With files from Amanda Hicks