Rideau Lakes, Ont. council issues reprimand of Mayor Arie Hoogenboom

Sign for the Township of Rideau Lakes, Ont. (Tyler Fleming/CTV News Ottawa)

Rideau Lakes Township Council has issued a reprimand of Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, following integrity commissioner reports into breaches of the municipal code of conduct.

The township council, made up of eight councillors and the mayor, has been bitterly divided, with nearly 30 integrity commissioner reports filed this term over code of conduct breaches, confidentiality issues and personal disputes.

The reprimand, issued Thursday, follows reports into a breach of confidentiality and into misleading public statements made by the mayor.

“At the MSC meeting on May 26, 2025, Mayor Hoogenboom publicly stated that he was under investigation by the IC (Integrity Commissioner). The IC found that this disclosure violated Section 6.2.6(i) of the Code of Conduct, which requires members of Council to maintain confidentiality regarding all communications to and from the IC,” a media release says. “The IC stated that it is important for members of Council to be mindful of their obligations under the Code of Conduct to keep information confidential. The report recommended that Council issue a reprimand.”

The issue of misleading public statements relating to a CBC Radio interview in which Hoogenboom claimed he had spoken to MPP Steve Clark regarding the use of strong mayor powers granted by the provincial government, a claim Clark later said was “categorically false.”

The council reprimand says the mayor’s comments breached the code of conduct.

“Although the mayor claimed to the IC that his remarks had been ‘misread and interpreted wrong,’ the IC rejected that explanation, writing: ‘The mayor is incorrect in his recollection of what he said and in saying that his comments were misread or misinterpreted. Accordingly, the Mayor’s comments were misleading to anyone who heard them,’” the media release says.

“The IC found that by making misleading comments Mayor Hoogenboom breached Section 6.10.1 of the Code of Conduct, which requires that members treat Council, staff, and the public appropriately.”

Councillors moved to virtual meetings after tempers flared and police were called to an Oct. 6 meeting, focused partly on seven integrity commissioner reports. Four days later, Hoogenboom informed council he had requested the province vacate all council seats, including his own, and call a new municipal election, in advance of the scheduled municipal election on Oct. 26, 2026.

There has been no word on whether this request has been granted or denied. CTV News Ottawa has reached out to the ministry for comment.

Thursday’s release, attributed to Deputy Mayor Deborah Anne Hutchings and Coun. Paula Banks, calls for leadership from the mayor.

“Trust in Mayor Hoogenboom is essential for council, staff, and the community to function effectively. Leadership requires truthfulness, sound judgment, and strict respect for confidentiality,” the release says. “When the Mayor discloses confidential information or makes categorically false and untrue statements, it undermines Council’s integrity and damages public confidence. As stated in the Integrity Commissioner’s report, the Mayor acknowledged that he apologized to the MPP and his office in order to maintain his excellent relationship with them. Council, staff, and residents expect and deserve leadership grounded in honesty, accountability, and respect at all times.”

‘Ongoing effort to discredit’: Mayor

In an email to CTV News Ottawa on Tuesday, Hoogenboom said the latest note from councillors was part of what he called an ongoing, two-year effort to discredit him.

“This media distributed reprimand is not only inaccurate but just a further indication of the divide on council and the vindictive nature of the group of 5,” Hoogenboom wrote. “It is clearly retribution for my use of strong mayor powers to veto their ill concieved municipal building project. This written reprimand comes on the heels of multiple Integrity Commissioner investigations against these same elected officials and supports my efforts to have the province declare all council seats vacant including my own. Only then will the citizens get the local government they deserve.”

Hoogenboom said the latest effort “amounts to harassment and defamation” and said he would be speaking with his solicitor.

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