Comments related to the death of American podcaster and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk are stirring up controversy at Sault Ste. Marie city council. A preliminary report from the city’s integrity commissioner, Antoinette Blunt, came to the Oct. 14 council meeting. Blunt said she would be investigating a social media post about Kirk’s death made by Coun. Angela Caputo. Caputo made the comments more than a month ago, prompting complaints to Blunt, who plans to spend $15,000 investigating the complaints. Blunt will look into comments Caputo made on her personal social media page Sept. 12, two days after the death of Kirk. Caputo addressed those who stated their advocacy for the American podcaster, in part, saying: “You’re not speaking up for injustice, you’re speaking for white supremacy, misogyny and racism … I am sorry that another human being was shot. That’s horrifying. I use my vote and my voice to try to make sure acts of gun violence don’t happen … but Charlie did not.” Three anonymous complaints were submitted to the city clerk last month, leading to Blunt’s investigation. At city council this week, Coun. Stephan Kinach wondered if Caputo’s resignation would save taxpayers the cost of an investigation. “If the councilor resigns, that would bring the investigation to an end and would avoid the estimated $15,000 for an investigation,” Kinach said. The comment drew a heated response from Coun. Corey Gardi. “Coun. Caputo is not going to resign tonight, nor is she going to resign before the findings of the integrity commissioner,” Gardi said. “And she shouldn’t.” Freedom Convoy For her part, Caputo said she did nothing wrong. “I understand that if I were spreading hate speech, that I should be held accountable regardless,” she said. “I do not believe that anything that I said was hateful or untrue.” Other councillors said complaints were largely from people outside of the city. “When this occurred, councillors — including myself — were in receipt of probably dozens of emails that were signed, not with just signatures, but with geographic locations outside of Sault Ste. Marie,” said Coun. Luke Dufour. “Pat King from the Freedom Convoy grabbed the petition (to remove Caputo from council) that was being put around and reshared it to his page,” Caputo added. “And I have gotten word from my friends who live in Alberta that it’s been shared there. And I’m going to go ahead and say that it’s being shared amongst the alt-right throughout the country.” Caputo said she stands by her words and will not be resigning.
