SOS Vanier alleges bias in mayor’s support for shelter

A member of SOS Vanier has asked the Ontario ombudsman to investigate the inner workings of council’s decision to approve the Salvation Army’s shelter relocation to the community.

Philippe Denault’s complaint focuses on Mayor Jim Watson’s support of the Salvation Army’s application before council voted last November.

Denault said the mayor’s “lack of impartiality” could be a breach of council’s code of conduct regarding transparent decisionmaking.

“I was very surprised he would commit to the project so early,” he said.

Watson rejected the allegations. “I can’t quite understand their logic,” Watson said.

“They don’t want me to state my position. Well, that’s the job of a politician. It’s not to sit on the fence and collect splinters. You’ve got to actually stand up, take a stand, and if you believe in it, work to implement it.”

Watson said it should be no surprise that the Salvation Army met with him and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury before going public with its development proposal last June.

“That’s their responsibility as a group that’s coming forward with a proposal, to get out there and sell their proposal,” Watson said.

Watson voiced support for the Salvation Army’s plan soon after the organization announced its development application for 333 Montreal Rd.

Council voted 16-7 last November in favour of the necessary landuse changes to allow an emergency shelter and social services complex on the property. Operations of the Salvation Army’s Booth Centre in the ByWard Market would be moved to Vanier.

Businesses, supported by SOS Vanier, have appealed the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Denault said he wants the ombudsman to make a ruling on a broader issue of governance, which isn’t part of the planning appeal to the OMB.

It’s a “grave failure in terms of administrative process,” Denault said.

An email exchange between Watson and Fleury, which Denault received under access to information, shows the two council members knew about the Salvation Army’s plans for at least 12 months before the proposal went public.

In the emails on June 22, 2017, Watson seemed shocked about Fleury’s opposition to the plan.

“We visited the site three times and your request to me was always to help you get the Salvation army out of the market! That’s exactly what I did and now you’re going to oppose it? You can’t have it both ways,” Watson’s email says.

The Salvation Army has said it started meeting with city officials as early as January 2015.

Denault said he couldn’t convince the city’s integrity commissioner to investigate his complaint, which is why he filed a complaint with the provincial ombudsman on Jan. 15.

Denault said he’s been contacted by ombudsman staff and he has provided them with additional documentation.