Janz tweet target of IC probe
Allegedly retweeted post reportedly calling officer `pig'
Edmonton's integrity commissioner is investigating a formal complaint against Coun. Michael Janz over his conduct on Twitter.
The investigation stems from a tweet referring to a police officer as a “pig,” not written by Janz, but which he allegedly retweeted.
The complaint, obtained by Postmedia, alleges a violation of the code of conduct policy requiring city councillors' communications, including on social media, be “respectful and do not discriminate harass, or demonstrate disrespect toward any person” and that communications not be misleading.
Thomas Deak, who initiated the review, told City of Edmonton integrity commissioner Jamie Pytel that Janz has “relished and supported the comment calling police members `pigs.'”
“Mr. Janz has an open agenda of hate toward the Edmonton Police Service. This is clearly evident throughout his posts on Twitter,” the complaint says.
A screenshot of the retweet submitted with the complaint shows a post by Calgary account @coldbike on May 29, 2022 stating: “So this week a co-worker got a $409 ticket for failing to stop his bike at a stop sign. It was 7 a.m. in a residential area, the roads were empty, except for the pig hiding in the bushes. The person who hit me with her car got a $47 ticket for failing to signal. Seems fair.” As of publication, the tweet was not available on Janz's account.
Pytel did not respond to a request for comment.
In an email sent Thursday and shared with Postmedia, Pytel told the complainant the concerns were under review.
Additional social media posts submitted with the tweet are not part of her investigation, Pytel said.
“I have now commenced a confidential investigation of your complaint dated May 30, 2022,” she wrote in the email shared with Postmedia. “I have included in the disclosure to the councillor the image you provided of the retweeted post in question which uses the word `pig.' I will not be considering or providing to the councillor the remaining posts as I've deemed them either irrelevant or involving third parties who may not wish to be part of this process.”
Janz said he's aware of the complaint but would not comment further.
Asked about the earlier complaint from the head of the Edmonton Police Association, which was dismissed by Pytel in February, the Ward papastew councillor said he thinks there is a “concerted effort to try and silence me and to erroneously paint me as some sort of anti-police radical, which couldn't be further from the truth.”
Janz said he has friends and family in law enforcement who know his views.
“This is a few people who don't like scrutiny of their budget or their conduct and it's manifesting in hostility against anyone who dares question it,” he told Postmedia. “I continue to have the utmost of respect for the individuals but I think no institution should be without scrutiny.”
Janz alleged that “fake accounts” on Twitter were soliciting complaints against him. He wonders if processing what he called “vexatious complaints” are a good use of the city's resources.
“I think at some point, if the code of conduct is being misused, then it's time as council that we need to review and be more specific on what the code of conduct is exactly intended to do,” he said. “It's not intended to limit the political discourse or the freedom of speech of any elected official.”
City council reviewed a potential social media policy in February 2021 but unanimously rejected it. The proposed rules would have prevented councillors from blocking constituents. That discussion came after former councillor Mike Nickel was investigated for his social media conduct.
Nickel was ultimately found to have violated the code of conduct but was not reprimanded.